COLOMBO, May 11 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Friday congratulated Mahathir Mohamad on his victory in the Malaysian general elections.

In a letter sent to Mahathir, Wickremesinghe said Sri Lanka and Malaysia enjoyed a traditional and longstanding friendship which had reached new dimensions.

"I am confident that these close and cordial relations will be further strengthened and consolidated in the years ahead for the mutual benefit of our countries," Wickremesinghe said.

Mahathir, a former Malaysian prime minister who led the opposition to achieve a victory in the general elections, was sworn in as prime minister on Thursday night.