Minister Bimal Rathnayake elected Chair of Sri Lanka-China Parliamentary Friendship Association

Wednesday, 26 March 2025 00:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Minister and Leader of the House of Parliament Bimal Rathnayake (left) with Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong, and Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne

Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation Minister and Leader of the House of Parliament Bimal Rathnayake, was elected as the Chair of the Sri Lanka-China Parliamentary Friendship Association for the Tenth Parliament.

The appointment was at a meeting held on 21 March under the Chairmanship of Speaker (Dr.) Jagath Wickramaratne at the Parliament, marking the re-establishment of the Sri Lanka-China Parliamentary Friendship Association. The Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Qi Zhenhong, participated in this event as the Chief Guest.

Furthermore, MP Lakmali Hemachandra, Attorney at Law, was elected as the Secretary of the Sri Lanka – China Parliamentary Friendship Association.

Speaker (Dr.) Jagath Wickramaratne, expressing his views on the occasion, recalled the long-standing bilateral cultural and political relations between China and Sri Lanka, maintained for centuries. He further emphasised that the Parliamentary Friendship Association is a platform for enhancing these relations. He also highlighted the importance of working closely to further strengthen bilateral relations in economic, trade, education, and technological sectors, ensuring maximum benefits for both parties. The Speaker stressed that the newly appointed officials of this association should actively engage in achieving these objectives.

Joining the occasion, the Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Qi Zhenhong, emphasised the importance of strengthening relations in mutually interested fields through the Friendship Association. He also recalled the friendly and cooperative relations between Sri Lanka and China, especially during challenging times, and extended his best wishes to the newly appointed officials of the Sri Lanka-China Parliamentary Friendship Association.

Expressing his gratitude upon being elected as the Chair of the Association, Minister Bimal Rathnayake acknowledged China’s longstanding friendly support for Sri Lanka. He particularly emphasised the significance of sharing China’s knowledge and experience in fields such as education and trade industries. The Chair invited all members to work together to strengthen Sri Lanka-China relations. Furthermore, he requested that the programs and workshops previously organised through the Sri Lanka – China Parliamentary Friendship Association for Sri Lankan representatives also be extended to the young Members of Parliament in the current Parliament.

Delivering the vote of thanks, the Secretary of the Association, MP Lakmali Hemachandra, Attorney at Law, emphasised the Association’s commitment to further strengthening the long-standing ties between China and Sri Lanka.

The event was attended by the Leader of the Opposition, Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Members of Parliament, the Secretary General of Parliament Kushani Rohanadeera, and several others.

Discover Kapruka, the leading online shopping platform in Sri Lanka, where you can conveniently send Gifts and Flowers to your loved ones for any event including Valentine ’s Day. Explore a wide range of popular Shopping Categories on Kapruka, including Toys, Groceries, Electronics, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Flower Bouquets, Clothing, Watches, Lingerie, Gift Sets and Jewellery. Also if you’re interested in selling with Kapruka, Partner Central by Kapruka is the best solution to start with. Moreover, through Kapruka Global Shop, you can also enjoy the convenience of purchasing products from renowned platforms like Amazon and eBay and have them delivered to Sri Lanka.