President Mahinda Rajapaksa has telephoned the newly elected Indonesian President Joko Widodo to offer congratulations on his decisive victory at the recently concluded Presidential elections and invited the latter to visit Sri Lanka.
“During the telephone conversation last Thursday (24th July), while felicitating President-elect Widodo, on taking the mantle of leading the 4th most populous country in the world, President Rajapaksa extended an invitation to him to undertake a State visit to Sri Lanka,” the External Affairs Ministry said.
Having secured 53.15% of the vote, Mr. Widodo emerged as the clear winner over his rival, Mr. Prabowo Subianto who secured 48.85% of the vote. Mr. Widodo is expected to be formally sworn in as the seventh President of Indonesia on 20th October 2014.
Sri Lanka and Indonesia enjoy excellent bilateral relations, dating back to the era of the Sri Vijaya dynasty, reinforced by mutual trust, abiding goodwill and friendship.