Indian Congress Party Leader Sonia Gandhi has profusely thanked Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe when they met in New Delhi for maintaining close and cordial relationship with her and her party from the time she entered the political arena following the death of her husband Rajiv Gandhi.

Mrs. Gandhi expressed her wish to improve and expand relations with Sri Lanka under the new Indian Government, the UNP media unit said yesterday.

The meeting between Mrs. Gandhi and Mr. Wickremesinghe was held on Tuesday. Congratulating Mrs. Gandhi on the overwhelming win the Congress Party achieved at the last general election, Mr. Wickremesinghe expressed his desire to see improved and strengthened Indo-Sri Lanka relations in the future in all spheres. He said he and his party would continue to make every effort to strengthen its present relations with its powerful neighbor.

Responding to Mrs. Gandhi's enquiries about the current situation of the peace process and related issues, Mr. Wickremesinghe said that the honor of laying the foundation for the peace effort has to go to the late Indian Premier as the Indo-Sri Lanka Pact signed in 1987 under his leadership was the first initiative toward peace. Mr. Wickremesinghe said his government was able to further that initiative by signing the Ceasefire Agreement and persuading the parties to come to the negotiating table.

Expressing her views on the matter, Mr. Gandhi emphasized that only a political solution arrived through negotiations could bring lasting peace to the island.

Mrs. Gandhi also referred to her late husband's initiative of managing the oil tanks in Trincomalee, and thanked the Wickremesinghe regime for going ahead and implementing it.

The Sri Lankan delegation consisted of MP Milinda Moragoda, Sri Lanka's High Commissioner Mangala Moonesinghe, Dr. V.K.Valsan, Advisor to the Leader of the Opposition and Saman Athaudahetty, Media Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition.