Sri Lanka’s prime minister was gushing with praise for China this week, calling the state a “true decisive global leader” and Sri Lanka’s “Kalyana Mitra” - a Buddhist concept meaning a special friend in times of happiness as well sorrow.
Dinesh Gunawardena, Sri Lanka’s former foreign secretary, made the comments during remarks at the 73rd Chinese National Day Anniversary Celebrations organized by China-Sri Lanka Friendship Associations at Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel on Wednesday.
“China has laid the foundation to become a global giant changing the international balance of power,” he claimed. “Its speedy and balanced progress in political, socio-economic, poverty alleviation, cultural, scientific, technological, environment, research and space spheres deserves our esteemed respect.”
“More than any other place on earth, and for the first time in the history of mankind, today's China has successfully eradicated poverty of 900 million human beings under its unique economic policy and set a great example to the world the way it adopted a practical economic model,” he remarked.
Gunawardena went on to highlight China’s support for “Sri Lanka’s independence, sovereignty, safeguarding of Unitary State, territorial integrity, and Buddhism”.
