News
Tai Chi ties: Chinese envoy hails deepening cultural bond with Lanka
Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong said that there was a growing popularity of Tai Chi and other Chinese martial arts in Sri Lanka as a powerful symbol of the deep-rooted cultural integration and mutual understanding between the two nations.
Speaking at an event in Colombo to mark World Tai Chi Day on Saturday, the Ambassador said that cultural exchanges between China and Sri Lanka have a long and rich history, with Tai Chi enjoying a particularly strong following among the Lankan people.
Text of Ambassador Zhenhong’s speech: Tai Chi is a traditional Chinese martial arts sport that embodies the essence of the long-standing Chinese civilisation. It reflects the traditional Chinese philosophical ideas of the cycle of yin and yang and the harmony between humans and nature. Tai Chi also illustrates the Eastern philosophy of overcoming strength with gentleness and achieving harmonious coexistence.
Learning Tai Chi has become an important way to understand China and Chinese culture. Practicing Tai Chi not only strengthens the body and provides self-defene but also cultivates one’s character and nurtures the mind. Tai Chi has spread to more than 180 countries and regions so far, with more than 500 million practitioners worldwide. In 2021, Tai Chi was officially included in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of UNESCO. Tai Chi is loved by people all over the world for its profound cultural heritage and practical flexibility.
Cultural exchanges between China and Sri Lanka have a long history. Our two countries have always enhanced understanding and reached consensus through exchanges. Sri Lankan people have a strong interest in Chinese culture, and Tai Chi has a broad mass base here. Every year, Sri Lanka sends professional teams to participate in international Tai Chi competitions and has won many awards. All these reflect the popularity and prevalence of Tai Chi and other Chinese martial arts in Sri Lanka, and also reflect the deep integration of Chinese and Sri Lankan cultures and the mutual understanding between the peoples.
I hope that through today’s World Tai Chi Day event, more Sri Lankan friends will join this beneficial activity for physical and mental health, further strengthening sports and cultural exchanges between China and Sri Lanka, and enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between our peoples. I look forward to our two peoples continuing to work hand in hand to achieve common progress through mutual learning of civilizations.
During an operation conducted in the dark hours of 01 Jan 26, the Sri Lanka Navy seized an Indian fishing boat and apprehended 11 Indian fishermen while they were poaching in Sri Lankan waters, off Kovilan of Kareinagar, Jaffna.
The Northern Naval Command spotted a group of Indian fishing boats engaging in illegal fishing, trespassing into Sri Lankan waters. In response, naval craft of the Northern Naval Command were deployed to drive away those Indian fishing boats from island waters off Kovilan.
Meanwhile, compliant boarding made by naval personnel resulted in the seizure of one Indian fishing boat and apprehension of 11 Indian fishermen who continued to engage in illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters.
The seized boat (01) and Indian fishermen (11) were handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Myliddy, Jaffna for onward legal proceedings.
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Tri-Forces donate LKR. 372 million, a day’s pay of all ranks to ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund
Members of all ranks from the Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Air Force have collectively donated a day’s basic salary to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund, which was established to restore livelihoods and rebuild the country following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
Accordingly, the total contribution made by the Tri-Forces amounts to LKR. 372,776,918.28.
The cheques representing the financial contributions were handed over on Wednesday (31 December) at the Presidential Secretariat to the Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
The donations comprised LKR. 250 million from the Commander of the Army, Major General Lasantha Rodrigo; LKR. 73,963,879.71 from the Commander of the Navy, Rear Admiral Kanchana Banagoda and LKR. 48,813,038.97 from the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Vasu Bandu Edirisinghe.
Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha, was also present on the occasion.
The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has submitted a proposal to the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) seeking an 11.57 percent increase in electricity tariffs for the first quarter of 2026, citing an estimated revenue shortfall and additional financial pressures, including cyclone-related damages.
According to documents issued by the PUCSL, the proposed tariff revision would apply to electricity consumption from January to March 2026 and includes changes to both energy charges and fixed monthly charges across all consumer categories, including domestic, religious, industrial, commercial and other users.
Under the proposal, domestic electricity consumers would face increases in unit rates as well as fixed monthly charges across all consumption blocks.
The CEB has estimated a deficit of Rs. 13,094 million for the first quarter of 2026, which it says necessitates the proposed 11.57 per cent tariff hike. The utility has noted that any deviation from this estimate whether a surplus or a shortfall will be adjusted through the Bulk Supply Tariff Adjustment (BSTA) mechanism and taken into account in the next tariff revision.
In its submission, the CEB said the proposed revision is aimed at ensuring the financial and operational stability of the power sector and mitigating potential risks to the reliability of electricity supply. The board-approved tariff structure for the first quarter of 2026 has been submitted to the PUCSL for approval and subsequent implementation, as outlined in Annex II of the proposal.
The CEB has also highlighted the financial impact of Cyclone Ditwah, which it said caused extensive damage to electricity infrastructure, with total losses estimated at around Rs. 20 billion. Of this amount, Rs. 7,016.52 million has been attributed to the first quarter of 2026, which the utility said has a direct bearing on electricity tariffs.
The CEB warned that if external funding is not secured to cover the cyclone-related expenditure, the costs incurred would need to be recovered through electricity tariffs in the second-quarter revision of 2026.
Meanwhile, the PUCSL has said that a decision on whether to approve the proposed tariff increase will be made only after following due regulatory procedures and holding discussions on the matter.
By Sujeewa Thathsara ✍️
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