Chinese ambassador to Sri Lanka – Mr. Qi Zhenhong had handed over a new batch of urgently-needed medicine donation worth LKR 2 million to the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children (LRH) yesterday (14).
The ambassador also inspected the hospital’s 9-storey main building and MRI scanner gifted by China.
Another 3.2 million LKR medicine was donated to the Colombo North & South Teaching Hospitals.
This donation with a total value of RMB 100,000 was made by China Friendship Foundation for Peace and Development, in collaboration with Sri Lanka China Society. Mr. Jinith De Silva, President of Sri Lanka China Society and Dr. G. Wijesuriya, Director of Lady Ridgeway Hospital accompanied the visit and donation.
Speaking at the ceremony, the ambassador said, “Since China and Sri Lanka established diplomatic relations 65 years ago, our two countries and peoples have always been understanding and supporting each other.”
“On behalf of China Friendship Foundation for Peace and Development, I am honored and delighted to hand over urgently needed medicines worth 100,000 Yuan (about 5.2 million Rupees) to Lady Ridgeway Hospital, and Colombo South & North Teaching Hospitals, which might provide further help to Sri Lankan kids in need of treatment. I would like to avail this opportunity to extend my sincere thanks to Sri Lanka China Society for coordinating the donation,” he added.
“In the coming months, more medical supplies with a total value of 5 billion rupees will be handed over to Sri Lanka and delivered to hospitals and patients across the island. Moreover, the biggest China-aid project so far, a brand-new National Hospital OPD Center in Colombo which can accommodate 6,000 patients daily, will be soon opened to Sri Lankan people,” ambassador Qi further announced.
Although the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has banned 22 institutions operating illegal pyramid schemes, no legal action has been taken against any of them so far, according to reports.
This was disclosed during a workshop held at the CBSL yesterday (July 08) on the dangers of pyramid schemes.
According to CBSL officials, after initial investigations, the files were handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further inquiry.
The CID’s Financial Crimes Unit has reportedly completed its investigations and submitted findings to the Attorney General’s Department, which is responsible for filing cases.
However, it was noted that not a single case has been filed to date.
The CBSL states that investigations will be continued against companies engaged in these illegal practices and hopes at least one or two such cases would be filed by the end of this year or early next year (2026).
U. D. Nishantha Jayaweera was sworn in as a National People’s Power (NPP) National List Member of Parliament before the Speaker of the House – Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, today (July 09).
He fills the Parliamentary seat left vacant following the resignation of Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma last month.