Sri Lanka was struck by severe flooding and landslides caused by Cyclone Ditwah, leading to road blockages, destruction of homes and loss of life. Immediately following the disaster, Chinese companies operating in Sri Lanka activated emergency response mechanisms, quickly mobilising donations and rescue efforts — putting into practice the solidarity envisioned under the Belt and Road Initiative and the principle of a shared future for communities.
The local Chinese business community, led by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka, rapidly rallied its member firms and raised over LKR 19.5 million in disaster relief donations. According to preliminary records, the contributions included LKR 10 million from CHEC Port City Colombo (Pvt) Ltd, LKR 3 million from China Harbour South Asia & Southeast Asia, LKR 1 million from Yutong Bus Co. Ltd, and LKR 0.5 million from CMEC. At the same time, the Red Cross Society of China provided US$100,000 in emergency cash assistance to the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society. In addition, the Chinese government has already provided US$1 million in cash assistance, along with relief supplies worth US$10 million, which are currently being transported to the affected regions.
Among the responders, CHEC has shown outstanding commitment to the welfare of affected communities. On 1 December, the company organised a staff fundraising drive that raised LKR 3 million. On 2 December, CHEC donated nearly LKR 1 million worth of materials to the Sri Lankan Army and dispatched personnel to disaster zones to assist with the distribution of relief packages. On 3 December, CHEC mobilised 24 units of heavy machinery to the A5 mountain-area tunnel disaster zone for emergency rescue operations. Prior to departure, the Senior Additional Secretary to the President, Mr G.M.R.D. Aponsu, personally visited to encourage the rescue team, thanking Chinese enterprises for extending a helping hand at a critical moment.
The bond between CHEC and Sri Lanka spans more than two decades. Immediately after the 2004–05 Indian Ocean tsunami, CHEC’s A5 project team participated in rescue efforts. More than twenty years later, CHEC has again mobilised resources to assist communities along the A5 route. Over the years, CHEC and the Sri Lankan people have “breathed together and shared a destiny” — from large-scale infrastructure construction to community cooperation, from tsunami relief to mountain-area disaster rescue — embodying the people-to-people connectivity promoted by the Belt and Road Initiative, and offering a vivid example of building a closer community with a shared future.
In this latest relief effort, the local Sri Lanka Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Overseas Chinese Association also actively mobilised overseas Chinese and the wider community, raising over LKR 10 million (preliminary estimate) for affected areas. Numerous overseas Chinese volunteered to join relief efforts, forming volunteer teams to assist at shelter sites and supply distribution centres.
Disaster tests friendship, and cooperation shines in adversity. In the face of sudden calamity, Chinese companies and Sri Lankan society stood shoulder to shoulder, demonstrating the responsibility of jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative and expressing the spirit of “together in wind and rain” that underlies a community with a shared future. The Chinese enterprises involved have pledged to continue monitoring the evolving situation, fully support post-disaster reconstruction and join hands with the people of Sri Lanka to embrace recovery and future development.
