MR wishes new Indian President

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday wished his newly-elected Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee over the telephone and extended an invitation for him to visit Sri Lanka.

On Sunday Mukherjee, the former Finance Minister and Senior Leader of the ruling Congress Party was elected as India’s new President.

This was after the country’s 4,896 lawmakers in State assemblies and Parliament cast their votes for the President, a ceremonial post. Mukherjee, who got more than 700,000 votes, had only one opponent without much support.

Mukherjee, 76, could also play an important role if one political party fails to get a clear mandate in the next general elections due by 2014.