The 71st Anniversary of the Independence of Sri Lanka was celebrated at the premises of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Beijing on Monday 04 February 2019 with the participation of the Sri Lankan community in China, a team of officials from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Venerable Buddhist monks from Lingguan Temple in Beijing and other priests. The Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in China Mr. Sivanka Dhanapala and Mr. Devanand Ramiah, Deputy Country Director of UNDP in China also participated in the event.
The ceremony commenced with the hoisting of the National Flag by Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku, H.E. the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to China. Thereafter, singing the National Anthem in both Sinhala and Tamil languages, observing silence in honour of the national heroes of Sri Lanka, lighting the traditional oil lamp and the multi religious observances to bless the occasion as well as the country were taken place respectively. The National day message of H.E. the President was read in Sinhala, Tamil and English languages, and the messages of Hon. Prime Minister and the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs were read in English.
Addressing the gathering, the Ambassador recalled the fruitful friendship between Sri Lanka and China and special thanks given for the assistance provided by China during the period of Sri Lanka’s Independence and territorial integrity was challenged by separatist groups just a few decades ago. Further he appreciated the strengthened economic cooperation via the completion of two giant projects namely, China-Sri Lanka joint venture project to further the development and management of the Hambantota Port and the industrial development zone in the adjoining districts and the land reclamation of the Colombo Port City.
‘’Both these two investments exceeded US$ 2.5 billion and a significant feature of these two projects is that both are foreign direct investments from China, and not a credit facility to be paid back by the Sri Lankan public. Sri Lanka’s new strategy of inviting FDI as much as possible, and cooperation to support this strategy by our foreign development partners, are greatly appreciated’’, said the Ambassador.
Furthermore, he appreciated the achievement in expanding trade cooperation, promotion of tourism and people to people exchanges including high level visits which further strengthen the friendship that existed between both countries. Expressing the views, the Ambassador mentioned that everyone’s obligation should be to preserve and enhance the image of Sri Lanka and her people among the international community and do the best to enhance and consolidate the mutual friendship between China and Sri Lanka, without compromising the national interests of either nation. Finally, the Ambassador stressed that ‘’the day of our Independence is a day of harmony and unity for all Sri Lankans across the world and it is my great honour to be able to share the strength of that unity with all of you today’’.
The Ceremony concluded with the cake cutting, and a lunch hosted by H.E. the Ambassador at his Residence.
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