Sri Lanka & China Enhance Cooperation

The Governor of the Yunnan Province, Qin Guangrong conveyed China’s support to the economic development process in Sri Lanka, with investment and association with major economic infrastructure projects in the country, when he called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa recently.

Acknowledging the contribution made by China for the development of the country, President Rajapaksa stated that Sri Lanka's economy has been greatly benefited by some mega-projects funded by China in recent years and expressed his gratitude to China's participation in Sri Lanka's economic rebuilding process, after decades of LTTE terrorism ended last year.


Commending the able leadership of the President, the Governor stated that President Rajapaksa’s overwhelming political success following a strong mandate in the recent elections, were due to his leadership in liberating the country from terrorism and his commitment towards the economic development of the country.

The two leaders stressed the need to enhance the cooperation between the two countries in many areas such as economy, education, culture, agriculture, investment and tourism. Referring to the maiden flight by China Eastern Airlines from Kunming to Sri Lanka with ‘a planeload of friendship’, the Governor of the Yunnan Province said that it would undoubtedly increase the tourist arrivals from China to Sri Lanka. He further added that the business delegation which accompanied him was keen to collaborate with their counterparts in Sri Lanka to promote trade and investment.

While welcoming the visiting Governor to the Ministry of External Affairs Minister of External Affairs Prof. G.L. Peiris opined that visits of this nature would make a valuable contribution towards enhancing the excellent bilateral relations between the two countries.

Governor Guangrong also noted that Yunnan Province in China was a tourism province, filled with abundance of natural resources while Sri Lanka was a well known tourist destination.

Referring to his visit to China in August 2010, the Minister of External Affairs stated that the visit provided him with an opportunity to brief the leaders of the Chinese Government on the current political situation and development process in Sri Lanka.

He expressed appreciation for the various assistances rendered by China and requested the Governor of the Yunnan Province to encourage more Chinese investors to explore the potential and opportunities available in the North and East of Sri Lanka with the dawn of peace and stability.

Several MoUs were signed in the spheres of agriculture, higher education, bio-mass and tourism promotion, providing more impetus to the relations between the two countries.

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Sri Lanka slams UN over war crimes probe

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka slammed the United Nations on Wednesday over its plans to investigate alleged human rights abuses committed in the final months of the savage civil war that ended last year.
Government spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella accused the UN of having a "hidden agenda" on Sri Lanka, where government troops finally wiped out separatist Tamil Tiger guerrillas last May after decades of ethnic bloodshed.
Rambukwella said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's appointment of a panel to advise on any violations of international human rights in Sri Lanka was "an attempt to provide oxygen to the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam)."
"The United Nations and its Secretary-General have revealed their hidden agenda in no uncertain terms," Rambukwella said in remarks posted on a government website.
Ban's latest move followed international pressure for a probe into allegations that thousands of ethnic Tamil civilians were killed by government troops in the military offensive that won the war.

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Sri Lanka Buying Al-Khalid Tanks from Pakistan

Enhanced defence cooperation between Pakistan and Sri Lanka is likely to be finalised during Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari’s three-day official visit to Sri Lanka, later this month.

Diplomatic and government sources said that there was a wide scope for enhanced military ties between the two nations and it would be explored during talks between Zardari and his Sri Lankan counterpart, President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

"With the defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the nature as well as scope of defence cooperation is bound to change somewhat, but in a broader sense it would include military training, intelligence sharing, arms supplies, etc.

Pakistan has already proposed a futuristic defence cooperation agreement. As one of the largest suppliers of high-tech military equipment, Pakistan played an important role in assisting Sri Lanka defeat the LTTE," source said.

Pakistan is said to have the largest conventional arms and ordnance facility, which provides several varieties of armaments for export. These include infantry weapons, anti-aircraft and artillery ammunition, tank and aircraft ammunition, rockets and aerial bombs.

"The shopping list included 22 Al-Khalid tanks worth US$ 100 million and weaponry totalling about US$ 65 million. The inventory for the army was worth US$ 25 million and US$ 40 million for the Air Force. 250,000 rounds of mortar ammunition costing US$ 25 million and 150,000 hand grenades were also purchased.
Last year one ship weaponry loads was sent to Sri Lanka every 12 days to bolster the assault on the LTTE’s headquarters in Killinochchi," he said.
Talks between Zadari and Rajapaksa, would also cover trade, investment, economic cooperation, tourism, culture and media, the sources said.

Read More

Sri Lanka Buying Al-Khalid Tanks from Pakistan

Enhanced defence cooperation between Pakistan and Sri Lanka is likely to be finalised during Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari’s three-day official visit to Sri Lanka, later this month.

Diplomatic and government sources said that there was a wide scope for enhanced military ties between the two nations and it would be explored during talks between Zardari and his Sri Lankan counterpart, President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

"With the defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the nature as well as scope of defence cooperation is bound to change somewhat, but in a broader sense it would include military training, intelligence sharing, arms supplies, etc.

Pakistan has already proposed a futuristic defence cooperation agreement. As one of the largest suppliers of high-tech military equipment, Pakistan played an important role in assisting Sri Lanka defeat the LTTE," source said.

Pakistan is said to have the largest conventional arms and ordnance facility, which provides several varieties of armaments for export. These include infantry weapons, anti-aircraft and artillery ammunition, tank and aircraft ammunition, rockets and aerial bombs.

"The shopping list included 22 Al-Khalid tanks worth US$ 100 million and weaponry totalling about US$ 65 million. The inventory for the army was worth US$ 25 million and US$ 40 million for the Air Force. 250,000 rounds of mortar ammunition costing US$ 25 million and 150,000 hand grenades were also purchased.

Last year one ship weaponry loads was sent to Sri Lanka every 12 days to bolster the assault on the LTTE’s headquarters in Killinochchi," he said.

Talks between Zadari and Rajapaksa, would also cover trade, investment, economic cooperation, tourism, culture and media, the sources said.

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