Amity torch project

Jinith De Silva

F riendship entered Sri Lanka centuries ago through the fabulous Silk Road route from ancient China. Since then， the two countries have developed close relations in the economics and cultural fields.

China-Sri Lanka relations gathered momentum after both countries gained independence. Sri Lanka was one of the first countries to recognize the Peoples Republic of China when it was established in 1949.

When then-Prime Minister S W R D Bandaranaike initiated diplomatic ties in 1956， the relations between the two countries became very warm， laying the foundation for cooperation in several fields.

In the past several years， relations have been rapidly enhanced through the Belt and Road Initiative， which was put forward by President Xi Jinping in 2013 with the aim of building a trade， investment and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along and beyond the ancient Silk Road routes. Direct Chinese investment and aid started to flow to Asian and African countries under this concept. BRI projects have contributed in a big way to economic development and have created a large number of jobs in participating countries. The port city of Colombo， built under the BRI， is solid testimony to the altruism practiced under the thought of President Xi. In this project， Sri Lanka will get 269 hectares of reclaimed land and job opportunities for more than 100，000 people.

China will continue to share its development opportunities with other countries and welcome them aboard the fast train of its development.

In times of disaster， China has been among the first to come to Sri Lankas assistance. In 2004 when the Indian Ocean tsunami devastated Sri Lanka， China helped with reconstruction.

During the COVID-19 pandemic， not only the Chinese government but also many Chinese organizations offered their assistance in numerous ways.

The Sri Lanka China Society is pleased and highly appreciative of the stand taken by the Amity Foundation（Nanjing） and Alibaba Philanthropy to help the poorest of the poor children living in Sri Lanka who were badly affected by the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic resulted in lowering the living standard of everybody， but especially the poor， who were laborers earning a meager living on a daily basis by working in their neighborhoods. The worst-affected were children of these workers who could not go to work because of lockdowns imposed by the health authorities to control the epidemic. Poor parents who lost their livelihoods could not send their children to school for lack of resources.03B48D5C-9543-43F3-92C4-751F32EE000E

Thanks to the Amity Foundation and Alibaba Philanthropy for stepping in at a time like this to help 455 of the poorest children by offering Rs 18，000（600 yuan） in cash， Rs 3，000 （100 yuan） of stationary and Rs 3，000 of essential food items per child. For this purpose， the society selected 455 students from 12 rural schools on the recommendation of school principals， government officers and divisional secretaries.

Preparing the lists of 455 students to provide cash， school packs and essential food items was an arduous task taken on by committee members of the Sri Lanka China Society. School principals and parents highly appreciated the donations at a time of need and conveyed their satisfaction and appreciation to the society.

School dropouts were reduced to a minimum， as the resources provided by various Chinese foundations allowed children to overcome their difficulties and proceed with their studies for some time. It was timely help.

The Governance of China Vol. 3

The Sri Lanka China Society has translated Chinese President Xi Jinpings The Governance of China Vol. 3 into Sinhalese. This translation was edited jointly by R Jinith de Silva， president of the society， and Herald Peiris， the organizations social secretary， with support from a few eminent members of the society. The society will distribute this book to public and school libraries in Sri Lanka free of charge.

The first copy was presented to Zhang Yingbao， cultural counsellor of the Chinese embassy in Colombo on May 4， 2022.03B48D5C-9543-43F3-92C4-751F32EE000E