Sino-Lanka ties grown considerably in recent times - Chinese ambassador

Text and Pix by Vavuniya North Group Corr Bandula Seneviratne

"The friendly relations between Sri Lanka and China are longstanding and go back to the 50's decade and has a history that even extends beyond this period, said Chinese Ambassador in Sri Lanka Yang Xiuping. This relationship shone through brightly during the regimes of S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike and Sirimavo Bandaranaike, the ambassador said.

"President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his regime too display close friendship as well as diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China," she said.

"The Sri Lanka-China Friendship Association has contributed greatly towards fostering their relationship between the two nations from the distant past," she said.

Cementing this relationship and to commemorate the 2600th Sambuddhatva Jayanthi, students from schools in the North received books and financial donations for equipment for their schools from the Chinese Ambassador in Vavuniya on Thursday (27).

The event held at the Maha Karuna Buddhist Hall was attended by Vanni Commander Major Gen. Sumedha Perera, Vavuniya GA G.S.M. Charles, Ven Gunananda Thera, President of the Sri Lanka-China Friendship Association Ananda Kulatilaka, Secretary Sumathi Dharmawardena and a host of others.

The Chinese Ambassador speaking on the occasion noted that Sino-Lanka relations has strengthened considerably in recent times.

She said China was assisting Sri Lanka in the social, economic and cultural spheres. "Our expectation is to assist Sri Lanka in many different sectors so that it will emerge as a prosperous nation.

She said China will extend special assistance to the government of Sri Lanka towards developing the younger generation of the country.