On December 27, 2024, the commencement ceremony of China-aid Subsidized Housing Project for Low-income Category at Colombo, Sri Lanka was held in Moratuwa, a suburb south of Colombo. Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong attended and delivered speeches. Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing Anura Karunathilake, Chinese Embassy Counselor Tang Yandi and others also attended the event. Representatives of Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism and Catholicism offered blessings for the project in their respective ways.
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the commencement of this project marks a crucial step in assisting the Sri Lankan government in addressing urban housing challenges for low-income families. She expressed heartfelt gratitude on behalf of the Sri Lankan government and people for China's longstanding selfless support. The project will help improve living conditions for Sri Lankan residents and strongly support the creation of vibrant, inclusive, and prosperous residential communities.
Ambassador Qi Zhenhong noted that China will assist in constructing 1,996 subsidized housing units across five sites in Colombo. This initiative demonstrates firm support for Sri Lanka’s new government and is an important step in building a community with a shared future for both countries.
Ambassador Qi Zhenhong expressed high hopes for the implementing companies—China Railway 25th Bureau Group, China Harbour Engineering Company, and Shanxi Construction Investment Group—believing that, with the strong support of all relevant parties in Sri Lanka, the Chinese enterprises will complete the project on time and with high quality, making new contributions to strengthening the traditional China-Sri Lanka friendship.