Sri Lankan Minister of Rural Affairs Athauda Seneviratne, a strong supporter of the Association for Sri Lanka-China Social and Cultural Cooperation (ASLCSCC), led an Association goodwill delegation to Beijing, and Hunan and Guangdong Provinces from March 7 to 14. ASLCSCC President Indrananda Abeysekera accompanied the delegation.
Recalling Traditional Sino-Sri Lankan Friendship
Feng Zuoku, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, met with the delegation in Beijing, and extended a warm welcome. He said, China and Sri Lanka enjoyed traditional friendly relations and the two peoples maintained deep friendship. In the new era, the CPAFFC and the ASLCSCC carried out many friendly activities rich in content and variety, enhancing the relationship. He believed the latest visit would undoubtedly further the friendship between the two countries.
Minister Seneviratne thanked the CPAFFC for its invitation and good arrangements for the trip. In 1950 soon after the founding of the PRC, Sri Lanka had extended formal recognition, he noted. In 1952, when the two countries had not yet established full diplomatic relations, and despite the Western blockade of China, Sri Lanka stood firm against all the pressure and signed a Rice-Rubber Barter Agreement with China that became a much-told tale in the history of the development of friendship between the two countries. Whenever China suffered from grave natural disasters, Sri Lanka always offered whatever help it could, while China had also given great help to Sri Lanka to survive hard times. For three decades, the government of Sri Lanka had struggled to put down domestic terrorist groups at home. Western countries had imposed numerous restrictions, but China had extended a timely helping hand for the government to finally realize peace and unity in the country. The basis of bilateral friendship had been consolidated by mutual support in hard times, an example of the saying: “A friend in need is a friend indeed”.
Minister Seneviratne showed great admiration for China’s achievements in economic construction. He said, Chairman Mao and other leaders of the first generation established the socialist system, enabling the Chinese people to stand like giants in the East; Deng Xiaoping set up the reform and opening-up policy and the socialist market economy that led to China’s immense achievements in economic development. At the moment when the Western developed countries all faced recession and crisis, China’s economic success had been outstanding.
Though China was becoming stronger day by day, however, it never forgot old friends. In the new era, it provided selfless aid to Sri Lanka in the fields of agriculture, mining, infrastructure, etc. It helped build the Bandaranaike Memorial International Convention Hall, the Mahinda Rajapakse Performing Art Center, the Port of Hambantota, and the Puttalam Coal Power Plant. As domestic peace prevailed, the Sri Lankan Government welcomed more Chinese enterprises to invest, actively participating in the country’s economic construction.
Enhancing Pragmatic Cooperation
Invited by the CPAFFC, the ASLCSCC delegation’s visit not only brought the two organizations closer together, but also firmly strengthened exchanges and cooperation in various aspects.
Furthering cooperation with the CPAFFC. This year marks the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Sri Lanka and the 15th anniversary of the ASLCSCC. During the delegation’s stay in China, it presented a plaque of friendship to CPAFFC Vice President Feng Zuoku to express gratitude for the contribution made by the CPAFFC in promoting friendly exchanges and understanding between the Chinese and Sri Lankan people. ASLCSCC President Abeysekera submitted to Vice President Feng Zuoku a proposal about the holding of Sri Lanka-China Friendship Forum jointly initiated by the ASLCSCC and the Sri Lanka-China Society, and extended a formal invitation to the Vice President to visit Sri Lanka and attend the First Sri Lanka-China Friendship Forum.
Strengthening Contacts with Beijing. In Beijing, the delegation attended the opening ceremony of the Photo Exhibition of Sri Lankan Scenery held by the Beijing People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (BPAFFC), at which it conferred the title of Special Honorary Council Member of the BPAFFC on President Abeysekera.
Li Xin, Deputy Magistrate of Mentougou District, Beijing, met with the delegation and talked about establishing friendship-city relations between the Mentougou and Kegalle District of Sabaragamuwa Province. The district government of Mentougou also signed a Letter of Intent on Friendly Exchanges with the ASLCSCC.
Strengthening Education Exchanges
In Hunan, Minister Seneviratne paid a visit to Central South University, and delivered a speech entitled “Friendship Between Sri Lanka and China and the Current cooperation and Development” to 400 students and faculty, who warmly applauded many times. On behalf of the ASLCSCC, he gave subsidy to six students who needed help.
Consolidating Exchanges and Cooperation in Buddhist Culture. In Beijing, the delegation members and the Abbot of Jietai Temple recalled the long history of exchanges of Buddhist culture between Sri Lanka and China, reaffirming the enthusiasm and willingness of both sides in developing exchanges. In Guangzhou, the ASLCSCC delegation presented a statue of a Sri Lankan Buddha to Liurong Temple. The monks and followers lined up in front of the gate of the temple, holding beads and flowers and chanting the hymns of Buddhist teachings, welcoming the statue to the temple.
