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Premier Rajapaksa explains why China is such a good friend

Published

5 years ago

2021/07/9

China had never sought to impose its own political views on the world, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said on Tuesday (6) addressing a virtual conference conducted to mark the 100th anniversary of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

China has also never felt the need to manipulate the affairs of other countries and it had always helped the other countries, treating them as equals, Rajapaksa said.

“This is especially important for a country’s independence as well as its sovereignty. Therefore, countries never hesitated to deal with China, because they are allowed to maintain their independence. It is the same for Sri Lanka. That is why most doors of the world were opened to China. This policy is very important for the progress of China, internationally. It has now become clear that China will lead the rise of Asia in the century ahead,” he said.

Prime Minister Rajapaksa said that no one in the Global South was interested in dividing the world into two camps and that China had done a historic service to relieve the suffering of Asian and African countries.

“It was China that helped the world, which was facing difficulties due to the division of the world into two camps. At that time, Zhou Enlai brought the idea of non-aligned nations to the world, for world relief. That non-aligned policy is still a relief to the world today,” he said.

The Premier also said that the Belt and Road Initiative was not something alien to Sri Lanka, which was a part of the ancient Silk Road connecting China with Europe.

Given below are excerpts of the speech: “I wish to express my warmest felicitations together with the people of my country on the occasion of the 100-year anniversary of the Communist Party of China.

“The honour of this historical relationship China has had with us is also included in this felicitation.

China has been a historical friend. And, based on our long-standing cooperation, we must acknowledge that China is one of our most sincere friends.

“To celebrate both the 100th anniversary of the Communist Party of China as well as the

long-standing diplomatic relations between China and Sri Lanka, we have taken steps to issue a

commemorative coin. It has now been 72 years since the CPC converted China into a Red China.

“Sri Lanka established Diplomatic Relations with the Chinese Government back in 1957. However, the leftist parties of our country have had relations with the CPC even before that. The Communist Party of Sri Lanka, in particular, has had relations with the Communist Party of China since the 1940s. I am pleased to say that we have been able to maintain good relations with the CPC because Sri Lankans also value equality and brotherhood.

“The Communist Party of China is currently the world’s largest political party, which has delivered a very important message to the world on foreign relations for the past 70 years. I am aware that it was the foreign policy positions of the CPC that elevated China on the global stage. However, China has never tried to impose its own political views on the world.

“China has also never felt the need to manipulate the affairs of other countries. China has helped

the other countries, keeping them at the same level, which is a very important matter for a country’s independence as well as its sovereignty. Therefore, countries never hesitated to deal with China, because they were allowed to maintain their independence. It is the same for Sri Lanka. That is why most doors of the world were opened to China. This policy is very important for the progress of China, internationally. It has now become clear that China will lead the rise of

Asia in the century ahead.

“The open economy has spread throughout the world, changing the very structure of many countries. “However, China accepted the open economy in a way that was suitable to China. Therefore, China did not accept the open economy as something that divides the country into classes and weakens the country. Instead, China has successfully eradicated poverty of 900 million people under its open economic policy and set a great example to the world by the way it adopted the open economy. I am confident that, China will bring back the economic strength that Asia had five hundred years ago through this Silk Road.

“China always believed that improving infrastructure will provide new ways and new strengths for the people. Therefore, we have constantly invited China to help develop the infrastructure of our country. China has also pledged to become a carbon neutral country by 2060. Therefore, countries on the Silk Road, which make use of the investments from China, will also have to work with a similar objective, not only to make countries carbon neutral but also for countries around the Indian Ocean to be free of pollution.

“I must also express my gratitude to China for the development and generous donations of the Sinopharm vaccine. The CPC set an example to the world by producing the vaccine and sharing it with the world. The motto of the World Health Organisation in the face of this epidemic was that everyone should be vaccinated, whether rich or poor. In this context, it is further admirable that China has given approval for the production of the Sinopharm vaccine in countries like ours. During a global pandemic such as this, decisions initiated by the CPC will be respected as those taken for the benefit of humanity.”

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Navy Commander attends Trans-Regional Seapower Symposium in Italy

Published

8 hours ago

2026/10/12

Priyan

The Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy, Vice Admiral Damian Fernando attended the 15th edition of Trans-Regional Seapower Symposium, organised by the Italian Navy in Venice in Italy, on 6 and 7 October 2026.

The symposium was held at the Italian Navy‟s historic Arsenal in Venice under the theme “From Regional Waters to Global Influence: Generating Effects Across the Midland Seas of the World”.

Organised biennially by the Italian Navy since 1996, the symposium brings together heads of foreign navies, naval representatives, academics, industry representatives and scientific researchers to discuss maritime security and the role of regional maritime dynamics in shaping the global balance.

The sessions of the symposium aimed to present an analysis of the relevance and influence of regional dynamics on global balances and their relative implications within the maritime domain.

Thus, topics discussed included; ‘Geopolitical Background: Global and Regional Dynamics in Comparison,’ ‘Pivotal Role of Cooperation among Regional Alliances as Security Providers,’
‘Maritime Regional Security Complexes, Global Order and Sea-Based Flows – What Role for Navies?,’ ‘New Arctic Chessboard: Seapower, Resources and the Race for Connectivity,’ ‘Future-
Proof Capabilities: A Naval Force Designed to Operate Across Oceans, Act Within Regions and Deliver Effects on the Ground,’ ‘Future Seas: Industrial Scale, Decisive Mass and Innovation –
Securing the Maritime Domain’ and ‘Future-Proof Leadership: Preparing Maritime Commanders and Sailors for Complexity,’

Cooperation fostered through symposiums of this nature, which bring together a multitude of global maritime stakeholders, will enable the Sri Lanka Navy to respond collectively to maritime
challenges, in pursuit of maintaining a safe, secure, prosperous and a stable ocean region.

Latest News

Heavy showers about (100-150) mm are likely at some places in the Central, Sabaragamuwa, Uva and Southern provinces

Published

8 hours ago

2026/10/12

Priyan

WEATHER FORECAST FOR 13 October 2026
Issued at 2.00 p.m. on 12 October 2026 by the Department of Meteorology

A low-pressure area may form over the southeastern Bay of Bengal by 13 October.

Under the influence of this system, an increase in rainfall is expected over the island and the deep and shallow sea areas around the island during the next few days from tomorrow (13).

The general public, as well as the naval and fishing communities, are requested to be attentive to the future forecasts and bulletins issued by the Department of Meteorology in this regard.

Heavy showers about (100-150) mm are likely at some places in the Central, Sabaragamuwa, Uva and Southern provinces.
Fairly heavy showers above 75 mm are likely at some places in the other areas of the island. Showers or thundershowers will occur in most parts of the island.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damage caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

Misty conditions can be expected at some places in the Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces during the early hours of the morning.

News

Elephant enrichment programme centred on the Thabbowa Reservoir proves successful

Published

8 hours ago

2026/10/12

Priyan

As part of the new government’s initiative to formulate scientifically grounded, long-term solutions to the human-elephant conflict, a programme aimed at sustainably fulfilling the natural food and water requirements of wild elephants within forest ecosystems is being successfully implemented.

Spearheaded by the Ministers of Environment, guided by the Secretary to the Ministry of Environment, and supported by all affiliated institutions, this initiative transforms tanks (reservoirs) and forest tracts in high-conflict areas into enriched zones for wild elephants.

To facilitate this forest enrichment drive, 113 forests have already been declared protected reserves under the Vanaspathi National Programme. The initial phase of establishing tank enrichment zones was launched around the Kala Wewa and Thabbowa reservoirs.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Environment and ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ jointly carried out an initiative to develop these reservoir
catchments into designated enrichment zones.

A year ago, an operation to eradicate invasive plant species that posed a severe environmental threat to the Thabbowa reservoir precinct was conducted with the comprehensive labour and
technical support of government officials, environmental scientists, the tri-forces, and residents.

Since the new government’s policy of “A Sustainable Biosphere, An Evergreen Life” is practically implemented at the ground level, officials from the Department of Wildlife Conservation and the Department of Forest Conservation have been continuously monitoring the ongoing progress and
field conditions of this collaborative project under ministerial directives.

During these field reviews, it was observed that following the removal of invasive flora, the tendency of wild elephants to wander into villages searching for sustenance has notably declined; instead, they increasingly frequent the naturally regenerated grasslands along the reservoir fringes.

Having proven this ecological model’s success through trials at Thabbowa and Kala Wewa, the Ministry of Environment has finalized all necessary blueprints to swiftly replicate it across other sensitive wetland systems and reserve zones where human-elephant conflict is prevalent.

By enriching wildlife habitats, this sustainable, eco-friendly, and scientific strategy protects human lives and cultivated farmlands while securing space for wild elephants in their native habitats, continuing to show promising results across high-conflict regions.