Responding to a tweet by disgraced former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, congratulating Xi Jinping for his re-election as the CPC’s General Secretary, China’s embassy in Sri Lanka thanked the accused war criminal and noted their ambition to enhance the relationship between the CPC and the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP).
Thank you Your Excellency. We look forward to further enhancing the friendship and exchanges between the #CPC and @PodujanaParty . https://t.co/UEDbnLhd2K
In May, Mahinda Rajapaksa was forced to resign from his post as prime minister amidst the country’s worst economic crisis, which has left close to half the island’s inhabitants living under the poverty line. Despite being under investigation by Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court for the mishandling of Sri Lanka’s finances; reports indicate that the Rajapaksa clan are plotting a return to power.
Earlier this month, the SLPP held a rally in Nawalapitiya, Kandy where Rajapaksa asserted his confidence that the SLPP could win a general election. 16 opposition protesters were arrested for their peaceful demonstrations against Rajapaksa’s attendance at the rally, including Nawalapitiya Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Organizer Sasanka Sampath.
We thank leaders of #SriLankan government and political parties sending warmest congratulations to H.E. #XiJinping for being re-elected as the General Secretary of the #CPC Central Committee and the successful conclusion of the #20thCPCNationalCongress . pic.twitter.com/fK20pa9wv3
In a Twitter thread, the embassy thanked representatives of the Sri Lankan government for their congratulations to President XI Jinping. This thread included Sri Lanka’s president, prime minister, and former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. This follows a meeting between China’s ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenong and Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Rajapaksa cultivated close ties to the Chinese administration during his first administration as he secured arms and relied on China to block UN condemnation of Sri Lanka’s genocidal warfare. In his 2015 campaign, at least $7.6 million went directly from a majority state-owned Chinese corporation to Rajapaksa’s campaign expenditures. The Chinese ambassador at the time reportedly openly lobbied for voters to back Rajapaksa.
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