Zhang Li reveals her love for Sinhala:

Lankan voice from the land of Great Wall

Suharshi Perera

Zhang Li

She chatters gleefully with her colleagues while politely greeting the visitors Ayubowan. In a second, the attention falls on her, the Chinese girl who invites her listeners to a têtê-à-têtê speaking in flawless Sinhala.

"I call it destiny," says the chirpy Zhang Li who speaks Sinhala in China's busy capital Beijing where hardly any other languages other than Mandarin is spoken or heard of. "Sinhala has become part of my life and that's why I say destiny does wonders," Li, the Sinhala Service Announcer of the China Radio International (CRI) - the largest radio broadcaster in China, remarked.

Exciting journey

Li undertakes an exciting journey to Sri Lanka and back to China over the Sinhala Service of the CRI everyday, weaving a bridge of friendship between the two countries to share differences and commonalities. Her excellent command in the language has earned her thousands of Sinhala speaking listeners worldwide bringing them closer to feel the pulse of China's culture, society and people.

"I trace an incredible relation with Sri Lanka and its people as I have been learning Sinhala language for over 14 years," says Li who reads her experience in a language foreign to China.

Unrealized dream

Li's dream to become a diplomat finally woke her up to a Sinhala language teacher and then a Sinhala announcer. She entered the Foreign Language Studies University of Beijing- a prestigious University in China, as a student of Sinhala language in 1992.

"I opt for Sinhala language as I thought I could realize my dream by studying a subject which was rarely chosen," she unfolds her journey of learning Sinhala.

During the four-year course, Li along with seven students studied basic grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation and phrases, under two Chinese teachers. Sri Lanka's history, politics, culture and the social set up were also included in the syllabus.

She volunteered to interpret for the Sri Lankan athletes when Beijing held the Asia-pacific Sports Festival for the Disabled in 1994 which became a platform for Li to develop her language skills.

New horizon

However, the chances of stepping into the Foreign Service dwindled for Li as Sinhala was not widely spoken around the world. She was a Sinhala language lecturer at the Beijing University when she got the opportunity to learn Sinhala at the Kelaniya University from 1997 to 1999.

"What I learnt about Sri Lankan life and culture from books took to its actual form.

The language helped me to understand their life style and feelings in a more subtle way which ultimately made me feel more Sri Lankan than Chinese," Li recalled.

Upon her return to Beijing in 2000, she guided 20 students to study Sinhala at the University but she had to put a stop to her academic career, as there was a very little scope for her subject in China.

Destiny carried her through a new path when she was invited to host a Christmas program over the Sinhala Service of the China Radio International. Later, she was assigned more programs by its Director Wong Zhao Dong. She hosted programs on radio while teaching at the University.

Overwhelming response

The mail globe

Soon Li was surprised by the overwhelming response of the listeners which warmed her heart. "It was quite contrary to the feeling of being a teacher. I was serious and the responsibility was too heavy on me. Here, I was truly free and happy when talking to our listeners in Sinhala and sign in Sinhala," she noted.

Soon she learnt more about broadcasting under the guidance of Director Wong and committed herself to serve the Sinhala Service as a permanent staff member.

CRI broadcasts in 53 languages worldwide and Sinhala Service is one of the services that won much fame and popularity around the world.

The huge globe placed at the radio station filled with listeners' mail stands a testimony to the popularity of the services. "A one third of the globe is filled with letters sent by Sri Lankan listeners," Director Wong remarked.

The Sinhala Service founded in 1975 broadcasts programs daily on short waves from 7.30 to 8.30 a.m. and the repeat programs are broadcast from 5.a.m to 6.a.m the next day, he added. News and Chinese language learning program are the prime interests.

Unforgettable meeting

Li after joining the prestigious media institute, met with high profile officers and leaders from Sri Lanka. "This added a lot to my life. The most unforgettable meeting was with President Mahinda Rajapaksa then Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. I met him in 2004 when a CRI delegation visited Sri Lanka ," she recalled with excitement.

Li's love for the Sinhala language never wanes, she says. "It will stay with me for the rest of my life. We will never depart. At present the Sinhala Service has become a cozy abode for me to develop my love towards the Sinhala language".