Lankan students visit Chinese school

A group of students and teachers from Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya, Colombo was on a six-day study tour to Beijing, on the invitation of their partner school in Beijing, No. 80 High School.

The Sri Lankan students participated in many activities organised by the Chinese school.

The delegation attended classes with the Chinese students, thereby experienced each other's culture and language.

The Sri Lankan students performed Sri Lankan dances and songs for Chinese students and teachers giving an insight to the culture and heritage of Sri Lanka. The delegation visited cultural and tourist locations in Beijing including the Great Wall, Forbidden City and famous Tiananmen Square.

During the dinner hosted by the Sri Lankan Ambassador Karunathilake Amunugama said the "Partner School Programme" was initiated with the intention of enhancing people to people contacts between the two countries.

He expressed confidence that these students will become true 'Friendship Ambassadors' in future. He said arrangements are underway to link a number of other schools, especially in the rural areas of Sri Lanka with Chinese schools during this year.

Member of the delegation Sajini Kaushalya said she was happy to visit Beijing and she made many Chinese friends.

She is highly impressed with the Chinese language and culture. Tian Zhang of the High School said she was impressed with what she learned about Sri Lanka, her people and culture.

The two schools were linked as sister schools last October under the Sister School Partnership Programme initiated by the Sri Lankan Embassy jointly with the Association for Sri Lanka - China Social and Cultural Co-operation and the Education Ministry.

Last year, students from Colombo Royal College visited China under this programme and arrangements are underway to send a group of students to Sri Lanka in June 2008, from their partner school - Beijing Liu Yi School.