Golden jubilee celebrations of Sino-Lanka diplomatic ties

Colombo: Sri Lanka and People's Republic of China completed 50 years of official Diplomatic Relations since 1957 to 2007. This occasion was celebrated by the Chinese Government in Beijing recently. President of Sri Lanka along with a large number of Sri Lankan delegation attended the function in Beijing.

The Sri Lanka-China Society too has organised a series of programmes to celebrate the Golden Jubilee event in Sri Lanka.

An open Inter-School Essay Competition was conducted in Sinhala, Tamil and in English mediums.

A large number of schoolchildren from all over the island including Batticaloa, Kinniya, Pothuvil and Trincomalee participated in this competition. The society visited few colleges in Colombo area in order to educate schoolchildren on the subject of Diplomatic Relations pertaining to this competition.

Another programme is the publication of a Souvenir comprising articles contributed by eminent people.

These articles are of pertinent value to the subject of diplomatic relations between the two countries. This publication will be released in connection with these celebrations on May 11.

The main event on this regard will be the Commemorative Meeting which will be held at 5.30 p.m. on May 11 at the Committee Room A of the BMICH, Colombo 7. The Chief Guest will be Minister of Foreign Affairs Rohitha Bogollagama. Ye Dabo, Chinese Ambassador in Sri Lanka will be the guest of honour.

The keynote address will be delivered by Dr. Wickrama Weerasuriya, founder President of Sri Lanka-China Society. The Commemorative Meeting will be presided over by the President of the Society Amaradasa Gunawardena.

The distribution of cash prizes to the winners of the essay competition will take place at this meeting.

The Cultural Division of the Chinese Embassy, will give away some special prizes to the winners. Packs of valuable books will be given by the Sakura Publishers of Rajagiriya to each winner.