An epochal anniversary
PRESIDENT Mahinda Rajapaksa’s current visit to China at the
head of a Government and business delegation, against the backdrop of
the 50th anniversary of Sino-Lanka relations, could be considered a
vibrant extension of our friendly and cordial relations with the
People’s Republic of China, which possesses the world’s fastest growing
economy.
The Rubber-Rice Pact of the fifties is often cited as a landmark in
Sino-Lanka relations and there is no doubt that it was so, but Lanka’s
friendly ties with China extends into the misty, distant past when there
was tremendous interaction between our countries in particularly the
cultural and knowledge spheres.
Centuries ago Buddhist travellers from China arrived in Sri Lanka in
the nurturing of religious and cultural links and this is now common
knowledge.
Therefore, what has been happening since 1949 has been a dynamic
enrichment of these centuries - long links. Besides, the last few
decades have proved perhaps as never before that China and Sri Lanka are
Kalyana Mitras in the truest sense of the phrase.
Take, for instance, Sri Lanka’s staunch support in the mid-fifties
for China’s efforts to gain membership of the UN. Sri Lanka did this in
the face of strong opposition by an array of big, Western powers.
Then, of course, there was the Rubber-Rice pact which proved a major
boon for Sri Lanka when the latter was faced with gruelling economic
hardships and when her rubber failed to find ready export markets.
In those trying circumstances, China came to Sri Lanaka’s rescue and
the Rubber - Rice Pact helped meet some important needs of both
countries.
These were, however, only the more important landmarks in Sino-Lanka
relations in our immediate post-independence years.
Since then, Sino-Lanka relations have thrived in a number of spheres,
including those of science and technology, education and even
architecture, with the BMICH and the Superior Courts Complex, proving to
be substantial achievements in the last mentioned field.
Therefore, the 50th anniversary in Sino-Lanka relations should be
viewed by our countries as a crowning achievement in relations between
two countries which have been relating to each other with the utmost
cordiality, respect and cooperation.
It is also fitting that President Rajapaksa should undertake this
official visit to China on this epochal anniversary because it only
serves to strengthen our bilateral links even further.
The Hambantota Port development project and oil exploration on our
Western coast have been mentioned as two important development ventures
for which Chinese assistance would be forthcoming and over which
cooperation would be finalised during President Rajapaksa’s current
visit.
Equally important would be the strengthening of business and
investment ties during this visit.
China is an economic powerhouse of Asia and it would be in Sri
Lanka’s best interests to further these ties. Hopefully, we would now
see a flowering of Sino-Lanka business ties. |
Callousness of employers towards the differently-abled
THESE unfortunate persons who are openly
discriminated may be asking themselves where are the equal
opportunities that are so much spoken about? Why is this callous
attitude? Apart from depriving us of employment, why are we
humiliated and embarrassed?
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Deccan Herald Editorial of February 23:
‘Bottled drinking water’ - facts the consumer should know
EVERYBODY would agree that there is nothing more
satisfying than a cool and refreshing “bottle of water” to beat the
heat of the day, wherever you may be. But the fact remains that many
of the vast number of consumers who consume what is available in the
market under different brand names, as bottled drinking water may
not be aware how safe it is as a food product.
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Seven steps to self-sufficiency in rice in Sri Lanka
If I say that, in this country, the easiest
thing to achieve is self- sufficiency in rice, I know most people
involved in policy making and implementing them may not agree and
they might even scoff at it as mere fantasy. For those who are
inclined to think so, I suggest they read the following short note
carefully.
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