A Chinese delegation led by the minister lead of the National Ethnic Affairs Commission visited Colombo last week.
While on a week-long official visit here from February 19 to 23, the Chinese minister Pan Yue held talks with Sri Lankan officials at the Ministry of Justice and National Integration and the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs. This was followed by a visit to Kandy.
The delegation head, Minister Pan Yue, will hold talks with Sri Lankan counterparts on topics related to 'ethnic harmony' and 'reconciliation efforts', Foreign Ministry sources said.
Mr Yue, a keen environmental activist, is also deputy head of the United Front Work Department.
Earlier this month, Zhu Yanwei, Charge d’affaires of the Chinese embassy in Colombo, visited Vavuniya, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, Jaffna and Mannar districts to distribute 2,470 food packages worth Rs 16 million to the people affected by recent floods.
“Our support for the Sri Lankan people, especially the people of the Northern Province, has never ceased. When Sri Lanka suffered from severe flooding in 2024, China extended a helping hand in a timely manner, providing emergency humanitarian materials worth Rs. 400 million and making a donation of Rs. 30 million to the government as emergency flood relief with the aim of assisting those affected,” an embassy spokesperson said.
Last year, the Chinese government supported both Northern and Eastern regions by providing Rs. 1.5 billion worth of essential supplies, including housing units, rice, and fishing nets.
Another Rs 12 million worth of livelihood assistance was given to affected people when Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong visited the North in November last year.
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