Rajapaksa’s pro-Chinese stance has given New Delhi reasons to worry.

What Mahinda Rajapaksa becoming Sri Lankan PM means for India

Only India can pull Sri Lanka out of crisis

There is a lot of convergence in the outlook of the leaderships of the two countries than before.

People have shown that whipping up of Sinhala nationalist rhetoric or holding up the bogey of revival of Tamil separatism is not enough to win.

The former president will have to sit in the Opposition benches in the same parliament where his writ once ran unchallenged.

In the past, Rajapaksa has proved to be a past master in 'under the table' deals.

Can Rajapaksa change his style of functioning?

Much would now depend upon how India follows up on the promises made during PM Modi’s visit to the island country.

Will the former Sri Lankan president's return mean having Chinese naval presence within hair's breadth?

India, however, would prefer Sirisena-Wickremesinghe to win as it has struck a good rapport with the island nation's incumbent government.

The incumbent president is no showman like his predecessor. But he has showed his mettle.