President Anurakumara Dissanayake has embarked on his second foreign Visit to China. On his arrival in Beijing President Dissanayake was given a warm welcome by Chinese officials. President Anurakumara Dissanayake has been invited to visit China by Chinese President Xi Jingping and the two leaders will hold talks on several bilateral issues with regard trade, regional security and on promoting tourism.
President Dissanayake’s entourage included Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath to Beijing where the Lankan President will have talks with Chinese leaders on economic issues and particularly on China’s Port city project in the country.
China has already provided Sri Lanka with 11.817 million meters of school uniform fabric in 2025 as a grant. This much of lengthy school uniform fabric is enough for ten thousand Government schools (10,000) in Sri Lanka. China will also focus on expanding its maritime activities with Sri Lanka.
As far as the diplomatic relations with India and China are concerned Sri Lanka has to be more cautious with regard to regional security issues. India remains more a pro-Western country and in recent years India and China have focused more on their economic policies and China has emerged as an economic superpower in South Asia. China’s man power is streamlined properly with all leading manufacturers throughout the world focusing on Chinese labor force.
From vehicles to electrical appliances all leading brands in the world now carry the tag as `Made in China’. Chinese labor force is cheaper as well as disciplined according to economists. China has been a long standing ally of Sri Lanka and presently China is developing a massive Port city and the land area adjoining Colombo’s Galle Face Green will cover 660 acres.
The Colombo Port city is considered as a man-made land area and expected to accommodate a large number of business establishments from leading industrial countries. Sri Lanka will become the second most connected nation in South Asia. The Port city is expected to connect two major financial markets Dubai and Singapore within five (5) hours by air.
However India is concerned about the mega Port city project and Indian media has indicated that China’s Port city project is focused on establishing the Chinese interests in the region and it would reflect in a challenging way as far as India’s security is concerned. Once the Colombo Port City project is fully completed it will not only have the business establishments but also residential units.
Since China is now no more a hardcore communist country and opened very much to the outside world on the guidance of its iconic late leader Deng Xiaoping, the dragon country’s economy has stabilised in a big way with China having closer links with outside world.
In recent years a large number of Chinese tourists are travelling to Sri Lanka. Chinese tourists claim Sri Lanka being a small country, they could experience different landscapes and weather conditions particularly the hills and the beaches in the Island.
In recent years a large number of Chinese tourists are travelling to Sri Lanka. Chinese tourists claim Sri Lanka being a small country, they could experience different landscapes and weather conditions particularly the hills and the beaches in the Island.
During the last holiday season in December a large number of Chinese tourists were seen travelling extensively in the country. Most of them even welcomed the New Year (2025) in the Island. Prior to seventies Chinese people hardly travelled outside their country. But now their arrival has even surpassed the Western tourists in the Island.
China being largely supportive to left oriented Governments in the Island, Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) which is a premier conference hall in the country is a gift to the country by China and it was inaugurated during late Prime Minister Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike’s regime in 1976. Sixth Non Aligned Conference was the first to be conducted with a massive gathering of international dignitaries such as Yugoslavian leader Marshal Tito, Chinese Prime Minister Zhou Enlai , Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Pakistan Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhuto and Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. Leaders from more than hundred countries participated at the Sixth Non Aligned Conference which was staged as the first event at the BMICH which was built by China.
Later during President J.R. Jeyewardene’s period the new Supreme Court Complex was built at Hulftsdorp and donated to Sri Lanka by China.
Therefore Sri Lanka adopted an appreciative diplomatic relations without antagonizing its premier neighbors India and China.
So in the backdrop of China assisting Sri Lanka in a significant manner and with currently the country launched its mega Port City project in Colombo, President Anurakumara Dissanayake has embarked on a landmark visit to China and the visit is expected to open more avenues as far as trade and commerce as well as tourism is concerned.
The 17th century emperor of France Bonaparte Napoleon once said that “China is a sleeping dragon when its wakes it will shake the world”.
So the French Emperor’s observation on China is now a reality.
