November 22, Colombo (LNW): During bilateral discussions at the Uga Bay Hotel in Pasikuda on Wednesday (20), Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong met with S. Mangaraja, President of the Batticaloa Civil Society, to address pressing issues in the Eastern Province. Topics covered included fisheries, agriculture, tourism, education, health, livestock farming, vocational training, and uplifting the livelihoods of war-affected families and female-headed households.
Ambassador Qi highlighted China’s longstanding support to Sri Lanka, emphasizing initiatives under the Sri Lanka-China Friendship Association. He noted that China has provided significant assistance, including 1.5 billion rupees in grants, COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic, scholarships for Eastern University undergraduates, and dry provisions during the economic crisis. Additionally, China has contributed to schoolchildren’s welfare by providing school uniforms across the island.
In recent contributions, the Ambassador mentioned that 12 million rupees and 8 million rupees were allocated to the Governor of the Eastern Province for developmental projects.
These discussions reflect the strengthening of ties between Sri Lanka and China, with a focus on addressing critical needs and fostering development in the Eastern Province.
