‘A true friend will always extend a helping hand’ – China's Ambassador strengthens ties in East

Following a visit to the North, China’s Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Qi Zhenhong visited Kaluvankerni, a Tamil village in the Eastern Province which he has travelled to previously, as he pledged further financial aid aimed at improving livelihoods in the region.

The Chinese embassy also announced an additional donation of 8 million LKR to support development efforts in the Eastern Province. Earlier this year, China contributed house units, fishing nets, and rice worth 1.5 billion LKR to the Northern and Eastern provinces.

This visit to Kaluvankerni comes shortly after the ambassador's trip to Jaffna, where he engaged in discussions about Tamil aspirations and regional geopolitics, including the influence of India.

During his time in Jaffna, he stressed China's commitment to supporting the economic empowerment of Tamil communities.

In the North-East, these diplomatic engagements suggest a concerted effort by Beijing to expand its influence in Tamil regions.