UN Chief phones Maithri to extend support

Wednesday, 14 January 2015 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in a phone call to Sri Lanka yesterday, congratulated newly-elected President Maithripala Sirisena and discussed the nation’s future development plans and post-war agenda.

Ban called Sirisena to congratulate him and the country on the successful conclusion of the presidential election, according to a statement released by Ban’s spokesperson at the UN headquarters in New York. “The Secretary-General and President Sirisena discussed the President’s 100-day plan and Sri Lanka’s post-war agenda. The Secretary-General affirmed continuous support by the UN to Sri Lanka,” the statement said. Sirisena was elected as Sri Lanka’s president last week. At the time, Ban welcomed the constitutional transfer of power. He also applauded the Sri Lankan Elections Commission for its professionalism in ensuring a peaceful and credible poll. Sri Lanka has experienced a spate of ethnic and sectarian attacks since its 26-year civil conflict, which pitted the Government against Tamil insurgents, ended in 2009. Most recently, a tide of violence and recrimination against Sri Lanka’s Muslim and Christian communities by Buddhist groups with extremist views has threatened to divide the country once again.