On November 1, the groundbreaking ceremony for the first bridge of the China Aid Emergency Post-Disaster Reconstruction in Sri Lanka project was held in Gampaha, a city in western Sri Lanka. Ambassador Wei Huaxiang; Bimal Ratnayake, Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development; and Anil Jayantha Fernando, Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning, attended and delivered remarks. Tang Yandi, Counsellor for Economic and Commercial Affairs of the Chinese Embassy, officials from the Sri Lankan Road Development Authority, representatives of the Chinese management unit and the contracting enterprise, and local residents also attended the event.

Anil expressed his sincere gratitude to the Chinese government and people for their generous assistance and professional support. He noted that China’s aid will help Sri Lanka move from “stabilization” to “transformation” in response to global challenges, and that the Sri Lankan side will make every effort to ensure the smooth implementation of the project.

Bimal, on behalf of the Sri Lankan government and people, thanked China for its long-standing deep friendship and broad support. He said that Sri Lanka is fully aware of the severe damage natural disasters can cause to public infrastructure, and that road and bridge construction is crucial for the country as it faces difficulties. He expressed pleasure that two large enterprises are involved in the project, which will not only connect communities but also enhance economic resilience and bring tangible benefits to the Sri Lankan people.

Ambassador Wei said that China and Sri Lanka uphold the spirit of the Rubber-Rice Pact and always stand firmly together when the other is in greatest need. Going forward, the two countries should deepen the strategic cooperative partnership featuring sincere mutual assistance and everlasting friendship, jointly build a China-Sri Lanka community with a shared future, and bring greater benefits to the peoples of both nations.

At the ceremony, the two sides signed the exchange of letters for the project and donated schoolbags and stationery kits to local primary school students.