Direct air links between Kunming and Colombo soon

Public Management Reforms Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka welcomed the initiative taken by the Yunnan Province Governor in China, Qin Guangron to launch a direct air link between the capital of Yunnan Province, Kunming and Colombo as it would further boost relations between Sri Lanka and China.

The Governor is visiting Sri Lanka with a delegation of over 200 persons from Yunnan Province on the inaugural flight by China Eastern Airlines to Colombo. He called on Minister Wickramanayaka who hosted a lunch in honour of the official delegation led by the Governor.

Wickramanyaka recalled his two visits to Yunnan Province in 2008 and 2009, when he was able to have very productive discussions with the Governor on further promoting relations between Sri Lanka and Yunnan Province, which has close links with countries in South East Asia and South Asia. During his first visit in 2008 he invited the Governor to lead a business delegation to promote trade and economic links between Sri Lanka and Yunnan Province. He also brought to the attention of the Governor the importance of having direct air links between Western China and Sri Lanka to promote people to people interactions to consolidate relations between the two countries.

The visiting Governor told the Minister that he was responding to the invitation extended by Wickramanayaka in 2008 by visiting Sri Lanka now with a business delegation. He was planning a visit last year but as he had a busy schedule he sent his Vice Governor to Sri Lanka with a delegation.

His delegation now included businessmen as well as representatives from other sectors as he believed there was great potential for closer cooperation between his Province and Sri Lanka in trade, investment, tourism and educational fields. His Province had decided to offer Sri Lanka 20 scholarships to promote educational and cultural links.

He said that there were facilities in his Province for Sri Lanka students to pursue higher education.