KATHMANDU: Sri Lanka’s newly-elected President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has pledged to work with Nepal to revive the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) that has remained inactive for a couple of years.

Soon after being elected as the island nation’s President, he has also pledged to foster peaceful co-existence and economic progress within the region.

Nepal is the present chair of SAARC.

He has also twitted as a response to Prime Minister KP Oli’s congratulatory message saying Nepal, being the birthplace of Lord Buddha, holds a special place in Sri Lanka’s hearts.

I thank PM @kpsharmaoli for your warm wishes. Nepal holds a special place in #LKA hearts, being the birth place of Lord Buddha. I will endeavour to foster peaceful coexistence and economic progress within #SAARC region and look forward to an early opportunity to meet https://t.co/8N3SNkWjiJ

— Gotabaya Rajapaksa (@GotabayaR) November 18, 2019

President Rajapaksa has also said that he is looking forward to an early opportunity to meet.

PM Oli had on Sunday congratulated Rajapaksa on being elected as the head of Sri Lanka.