China has greeted “old friend” Mahinda Rajapaksa on taking over as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka following a landslide victory and assured him full support, as Beijing looks forward to advancing its strategic cooperative partnership with Colombo.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said the Sri Lankan leader has been long committed to promoting the friendship between the two countries.

Significantly Rajapaksa has been greeted by the Central Committee of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC). The CPC’s greetings were conveyed to Rajapaksa’s party, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna.