Accepting President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s defeat, Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Ali Sabry congratulated National Peoples Power (NPP) presidential candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Sabry conveyed his congratulations in a post on X, even though the official results of the 2024 presidential election have yet to be announced.
In his post, Minister Sabry stated, “After a long and arduous campaign, the results of the election are now clear. Though I campaigned heavily for President Wickremesinghe, the people of Sri Lanka have made their decision, and I fully respect their mandate for Anura Kumara Dissanayake. In a democracy, it is essential to honor the will of the people, and I do so without hesitation.
I extend my sincere congratulations to Mr. Dissanayake and his team. Leading a country is no easy task, and I genuinely hope their leadership brings Sri Lanka the peace, prosperity, and stability it deserves. The challenges ahead are significant, and I trust they will learn from the successes and failures of past leaders. History shows us that the real challenge lies not in winning elections, but in governing wisely and addressing the needs of the people.
Too often, past winners have lost sight of their promises and missed opportunities for real change. I hope Mr. Dissanayake and his team learn from these mistakes and lead with a commitment to transparency, integrity, and the long-term good of the country.
I wish Mr. Dissanayake and his team every success in their efforts to move Sri Lanka forward.”
Sabry, a close ally of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, later pledged his support to President Wickremesinghe, holding key ministerial portfolios.
