COLOMBO, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) —The Sri Lanka-China Society celebrated its 45th anniversary on Wednesday, ahead of China’s traditional Mid-Autumn Festival.

A commemorative event was held Wednesday at Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall in Colombo, which was attended by key members of the society as well as officials from the Sri Lankan government and the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka.

Speaking to Xinhua ahead of the event, Jinith de Silva, President of the Society, expressed pride in and gratitude for the Society’s diligent journey of promoting Sri Lanka-China friendship over the past years.

He also noted that the Society intended to revive and organise regularly the set of meetings, seminars and discussions that aim to enhance the members’ understanding of China.

Addressing the event, Ni Lisheng, Chief of the China Cultural Centre in Sri Lanka, thanked the Society for its long-standing and effective cooperation with the Centre in organising cultural and people-to-people exchanges, while emphasising the Society’s pivotal role in presenting the Sri Lankan public with a vibrant and panoramic image of modern China.

Minister of Science and Technology Chrishantha Abeysena congratulated the Society on its anniversary in his address. Pointing out that China has become a leading player in the realm of technologies, such as artificial intelligence and robotics, he emphasised the necessity for Sri Lanka to draw experience from China’s success through routine communication and exchanges.

Established in 1981, the Sri Lanka-China Society is one of the primary civil society organisations that dedicates itself to enhancing friendship and mutual understanding between Sri Lanka and China.

Marking the completion of two years of the ‘Vision’ Programme, students from Pinnawala Central College and Matale Siri Seevali College were given an opportunity on Thursday (24) to visit the Presidential Secretariat.

The ‘Vision’ Programme was launched for schoolchildren jointly by the Presidential Secretariat, the Ministry of Education and the Department of Communication of the Parliament of Sri Lanka.

Following a visit to the former Parliament building at the Presidential Secretariat, the students were also briefed on the history of Parliament.

The role of the President’s Fund and its importance to schoolchildren were explained by Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage.

The ‘Vision’ commemorative book, featuring the two-year journey of the ‘Vision’ Programme and its special activities, was also presented to the participating schools.

As part of the programme, valuable plants were also presented to the schools as a symbolic gesture underscoring the importance of environmental conservation.

Director General of Public Relations Dharmasiri Gamage, the Director and Assistant Director of the Tri-Services Security Coordination Unit, the principals and teaching staff of Pinnawala Central College and Matale Siri Seevali College, and students were among those present on the occasion.

President’s Media Division (PMD)

Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday vowed that an SJB government would repeal the 22nd Amendment (22A) to the Constitution.Premadasa made the pledge while addressing thousands of SJB supporters who gathered near Parliament to protest against 22A.

Addressing the rally at Polduwa Junction, Battaramulla, Premadasa said the proposed constitutional amendment would undermine democracy and judicial independence and enable the concentration of political power in the Executive.

“Even if they pass it, under an SJB government we will scrap it,” Premadasa told the gathering, claiming that 22A was aimed at paving the way for a one-party state and placing the State under the control of a single political party.

Braving the rain, Premadasa said they had gathered there peacefully and had no intention of resorting to violence.

“We have gathered here to protect democracy,” he said, challenging the government to hold Provincial Council elections if it was confident of facing the people.

Premadasa said the SJB was prepared to work with any democratic and clean political force committed to the country’s progress and public welfare, amid ongoing discussions on cooperation among Opposition parties, including the United National Party.

Premadasa also accused groups aligned with the government of attempting to discourage people from attending the protest through statements and other measures.

SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara said the protest had been organised against the proposed amendment, which the party had opposed on the grounds that it could pave the way for authoritarianism.

The demonstration began around 9 a.m. at Polduwa Junction and coincided with Parliament taking up the proposed 22nd Amendment for debate. Proceedings on the Bill are scheduled to continue today (25).

The Supreme Court has determined that the proposed amendment does not require approval at a referendum and could be passed with a special majority in Parliament.

Meanwhile, traffic congestion was reported on roads surrounding Parliament and Polduwa Junction following the demonstration.

Security was also tightened in and around the Parliamentary complex, with a heavy police presence observed at Polduwa Junction and near the main entrance to Parliament.