President thanks China for continued assistance

President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday expressed his deep appreciation to China for providing continuous assistance for development of the island nation.

“When we travel across Colombo as well as around the country we can see many development projects funded by the government of China,” the President told a visiting delegation of the Communist Party of China, headed by the party’s Deputy Leader and the Deputy Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress Zhang Baowen, at the President’s Official Residence in Colombo yesterday.

The President added that he expects the continuous assistance of the government of China to the Sri Lankan government in the future too in achieving the development goals of the country.

“Sri Lanka expects the fullest cooperation from China to overcome the challenge of poverty in the country,” President Sirisena said.

The two leaders especially discussed the long standing relationship between Sri Lanka and China as well as the relationship between the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the Communist Party of China. The President recalled that every time when SLFP forms a government the relationship between the government and the Communist Party was strengthened.

The President thanked them for the continuous assistance provided for Sri Lanka by China in the international foray.

He also expressed his appreciation over the service rendered by the Chinese Ambassador in Sri Lanka to strengthen the ties between the two countries.

Relations between the two countries have been strained since the new government of President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has suspended several Chinese mega infrastructure projects including US$ 1.4 billion Colombo Port City Project alleging corruption.