UN Secretary General urges Sri Lanka to seize opportunity to resolve political differences

<p>United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has welcomed the “resolution of the political crisis in Sri Lanka through peaceful, constitutional means” his spokesperson said on Thursday.</p> <p><a href="https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2018-12-20/statement-attr…">The statement</a> from the Secretary-General, added that he “applauds the resilience of the country’s democratic institutions”.</p> <p>“The Secretary-General calls on all political actors to seize the opportunity of the appointment of the new cabinet to resolve outstanding political differences in the same spirit of respect for democracy and in the interest of the people of Sri Lanka,” it continued.</p> <p>Sri Lanka’s crisis, which began when Mahinda Rajapaksa was unexpectedly appointed as prime minister in October, saw calls for sanctions amid&nbsp;a falling rupee and downgrading from ratings agencies.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>