On June 13, the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka, in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports of Sri Lanka, co-hosted the 2026 Dragon Boat Culture Festival—China-Sri Lanka Friendship Cup Dragon Boat Race at Port City Colombo. Ambassador H. E. Qi Zhenhong and Hon. S.K. Gamage, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports of Sri Lanka, attended and delivered remarks.  The event was also attended by the Minister of Labour and other Sri Lankan dignitaries, former Navy Commander Admiral Priyantha Perera, Army Chief of Staff Major General Nilantha Premarathne, other senior military officials, members of the diplomatic corps, as well as local residents, overseas Chinese, and participating athletes—totaling over a thousand participants.

H.E. Qi Zhenhong noted that dragon boat racing is one of China's oldest and most meaningful traditional festival activities, symbolizing the spirit of unity, perseverance, and unwavering determination. He emphasized that China and Sri Lanka have been walking hand in hand on the path of development, with mutual respect and trust, and that bilateral relations, like a dragon boat, are forging ahead steadily against all odds.

Hon. Gamage remarked that China's Dragon Boat Festival carries profound cultural connotations. He stated that this dragon boat race is not only a sporting event but also a wonderful cultural activity that showcases the cultural traditions of the Dragon Boat Festival and promotes cultural exchanges and people-to-people connectivity between Sri Lanka and China.

The event site was festively decorated and crowded with enthusiastic spectators. A total of 19 teams from both China and Sri Lanka competed fiercely, with several participants traveling all the way from the northern Jaffna region to take part. The event also featured Chinese cultural exhibitions, a Chinese food experience zone, children's fun performances, and parent-child games, allowing the public to immerse themselves in the Dragon Boat Festival culture. After the award ceremony, the Rugao Puppetry Art Troupe presented a splendid rod puppet show.

The event received extensive media coverage from Chinese outlets such as China Media Group and People's Daily, as well as Sri Lankan media including the Daily News.