Hon. Bimal Rathnayake, Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation, and Leader of the House of Parliament, has been elected as the Chair of the Sri Lanka-China Parliamentary Friendship Association for the Tenth Parliament.
The election took place on the 21st at a meeting chaired by Hon. Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, marking the re-establishment of the Association. Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, HE Qi Zhenhong, attended as the chief guest.
Additionally, Hon. Lakmali Hemachandra, Attorney at Law, was elected as the Secretary of the Association.
Hon. Dr. Wickramaratne highlighted the deep-rooted cultural and political ties between Sri Lanka and China, emphasizing the Association’s role in strengthening cooperation in trade, education, and technology. He encouraged the newly elected officials to actively work towards these objectives.
Ambassador Qi Zhenhong reiterated the importance of the Friendship Association in fostering bilateral relations, particularly during challenging times, and extended his best wishes to the new leadership.
Expressing gratitude for his appointment, Minister Rathnayake acknowledged China’s longstanding support for Sri Lanka and emphasized the value of learning from China’s expertise, particularly in education and trade. He also proposed expanding programs for young MPs to further enhance bilateral ties.
In her vote of thanks, Secretary Lakmali Hemachandra reaffirmed the Association’s commitment to strengthening Sri Lanka-China relations.
The event was attended by the Hon. Leader of the Opposition, Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Members of Parliament, and other dignitaries.
