New Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha meets former President

Newly-appointed Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha on Saturday met Sri Lanka’s former president Mahinda Rajapaksa and discussed New Delhi’s consistent support to Colombo over the last several decades.

“High Commissioner @santjha met former President @PresRajapaksa and discussed Sri Lanka’s age-old relationship with India, as well as India’s consistent support to Sri Lanka over last several decades as a close friend and neighbour,” the Indian High Commission said in a post on X.
    
Jha assumed charge as the High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka in December 2023.

A senior Indian diplomat, Jha was India’s Ambassador to the European Union, Belgium and Luxembourg before taking up his assignment in Colombo.

Jha had also served in Colombo from 2007-2010 as Counsellor at the High Commission, handling work related to commercial and economic matters.

Recalling his previous stint in Sri Lanka, Jha said that he considers it a great privilege to be in Colombo once again to work for further strengthening bilateral friendship and cooperation.

Rajapaksa and his family were ousted from power during anti-government protests in the island nation following an economic crisis in 2022.