“The ANC’s victory is an unambiguous endorsement of not only your personal popularity, but also that of the enduring strength of the party of Nelson Mandela, Oliver Thambo and other great heroes of the anti-apartheid movement,” President Rajapaksa wrote. “It is also a reaffirmation of the confidence of the majority of the people of South Africa in the ability of the ANC Government to progressively achieve more inclusive national economic development and prosperity.”

The President also expressed confidence that Sri Lanka – South Africa relations, which he described as a “deep-seated friendship, abiding trust and good will,” will continue to strengthen.

Sri Lanka established diplomatic relations with South Africa in September of 1994, following the election of Mr. Nelson Mandela as President. Sri Lanka established its first resident diplomatic mission in Pretoria in October 1997, and South Africa established its resident mission in Colombo in September 2007.