China's 30th Parallel Photo Exhibition unveiled at the Colombo Public Library

Saturday, 29 January 2011 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Text and Pix by Harsha Udayakantha Peiris

The embassy of the People's Republic of China in collaboration with the Listeners' Association of China International Radio, CRI Confucius Centre of Lumbini College in Colombo and CRI Sri Lanka FM 2, declared open a dedicated two day exhibition of Chinese photography at the Public Library in Colombo on 28th January 2011.

The exhibition held is as a part of a series of programmes and events to celebrate the Happy Chinese New Year 2011. The exhibition titled as 'China's 30th Parallel Photo Exhibition depicts more than 60 photographs taken by a number of renowned Chinese photographers on lifestyle, development of civilisation, modern customs, rituals, marshal art, fashions and modern trends along the valleys and landscapes beside longitudinal line 30 that runs over China.

As China's 30th parallel runs from west to east, it traverses regions of incomparable natural splendour, encompassing virtually every type of geography with the exception of desert. Eighty seven natural nature reserves, representing today's China's concern with the environment are located along this corridor, accounting for almost one third of China's environmental protection zones. The 30th parallel passes through the Changjiang River valley, China's most densely populated and economically developed region. One third of china's population lives along this corridor, blending the vivid diversity of human culture into a song of ages. Since ancient times, the Changjiang River valley has been one of China's most important economic centres. For millennia, the landscapes of this region have been depicted in gorgeous ink scroll painting, reflecting the traditional Chinese principle of harmony between humanity and nature. The corridor also offers a living record of the development of the Chinese people, and provides a tangible link between past and present.

The Senior Minister Athauda Senevirathne who attended as the Chief Guest of the opening ceremony of the exhibition in a special good-will message stated that the Chinese diplomacy has assisted Sri Lanka in numerous ways since the historical periods when Sri Lanka needed the generosity and helping hand of a better and trustworthy friend. He reminded that the Rice - Rubber Pact between China and Sri Lanka was a measure facilitated which is of utmost gratitude at a time Sri Lanka was facing a severe food crisis.

The Minister added that current financial assistance granted by China towards Sri Lanka for the mega projects such as Hambantota Port is heartily commendable of their true mutuality and generosity in Sri Lanka's journey towards economic prosperity.

Minister of Foreign Employment Promotion and welfare Dilan Perera and the Deputy Minister of Finance Geethanjana Gunawardhane were also present at the occasion. The Chinese photographic exhibition is open to the public free of charge from 9.00am to 03.00pm till Saturday the 29th January 2011.