by Our Correspondent in Colombo
The Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Qi Zhenhong, recently has strongly refuted claims that the Tamil communities in the Northern and Eastern provinces harbor opposition to China. Speaking to a carefully selected group of journalists, Qi described such views as a deliberately constructed false narrative. He highlighted his multiple visits to these regions, praising the people for their kindness, hospitality, and rich cultural heritage.
Ambassador Qi stressed that historical misconceptions about Chinese intentions in these areas need to be corrected. He described the negative portrayal of Tamil attitudes toward China as unfounded and systematic, emphasizing the importance of understanding the local population’s true sentiment.
On the development front, China has allocated 1,200 million for initiatives in the North and East, including housing schemes, fishing net distributions, and dry ration packs. Plans are also underway for special food distribution programs during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year celebrations, known as Chithirai Puthandu. Qi noted that many of China’s contributions, such as the construction of 14 new bridges, donation of 100 electric buses, provision of school uniforms worth 15 million dollars over the past four years, and a special medical vehicle for eye clinics and liver transplant surgeries, receive limited media attention.
Trade relations between China and Sri Lanka remain heavily imbalanced, with last year’s bilateral trade totaling 6.2 billion US dollars, while Sri Lanka’s exports to China reached only 300 million dollars. Ambassador Qi highlighted the urgent need for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to address the $5.9 billion trade deficit. He urged Sri Lankans to move past fears of Chinese market dominance and embrace the agreement, arguing it would yield mutual economic benefits for both nations.
