Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has congratulated Mahinda Rajapaksa on his election as Sri Lanka's prime minister.

Leader of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna party Rajapaksa took his oath as the nation's new PM on Sunday after his party secured a landslide victory in the recently concluded parliamentary election.

Premier Li said China and Sri Lanka have maintained a traditional friendship and that the strategic partnership between the two sides has developed rapidly, with cooperation in various areas deepened and widened.

Noting the joint fight against COVID-19, Li said the bilateral friendship has been consolidated during the process.

China attaches great importance to its relations with Sri Lanka and is willing to work together in pushing forward bilateral ties to better benefit the people in both countries, Li added.

Rajapaksa was sworn in as the prime minister  for the fourth time.

Rajapaksa's party won 145 seats in the August 5 election to elect new legislators in a 225-member parliament.

According to Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the new parliament will convene on August 20.