Sri Lanka is seeking further investment from China and has taken substantial actions to protect investor’s rights, said Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, the country’s Speaker of Parliament.
The top official, who just attended the eighth China-South Asia Expo in Kunming, southwest China’s Yunnan Province, highlighted that the expo brings together enterprises from China and South Asia for trade opportunities while speaking in an exclusive interview with China Global Television Network.
“Last time we had only 80-odd participants. This time we had 126, or something like that, so the number of participants has increased considerably. The number one is gem and jewelry. Gem and jewelry is very popular and successful business in our country. Now they want to capture the Chinese market. The Chinese market is very attractive. The other thing was the garment industry. The garment industry is also is one of the lucrative businesses in the country. With this exhibition, I invite Chinese investors to come and invest in Sri Lanka in these fields, especially the tea, gem and jewelry, and garments,” he said.
Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena shared that the two countries will further cooperate under the Belt and Road Initiative, especially to advance flagship projects including the Colombo Port City and the Hambantota Port.
“Belt and Road Initiative is not a new thing for Sri Lanka. Thousands of years ago, there had been Chinese businessmen who did a lot of business in my country. Now, with this new approach, with the Belt and Road [Initiative], there is an ample opportunity, and it can expand unprecedentedly in our country. The port city is totally a Chinese investment, and Sri Lanka has recognized it. And in parliament, we have passed the legislation to give security for the investors. It’s a special law that is investor beneficial, investor friendly, and their investments are untouched,” he said.
The official also highly praised the medical aid offered by China for local cataract patients and expressed expectations that there will more exchanges in tourism.
“Those cataract operations were very successful and there was a big demand. And more than that, now China has given us a friendship hospital in Polonnaruwa. It’s for kidney patients. It’s an amazing investment, amazing donation to our country and which we appreciate very much. Tourism is also another industry that we develop in our country. There are very attractive sceneries, very attractive tourist offerings. If you can get 10 percent of your tourist influx to the country, that is more than enough for us to survive our industry. Chinese tourists are very well recognized and accepted by the Sri Lankan government and by the Sri Lankan people,” he said.
President Anura Kumara Disanayake stated that the life of His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith serves as an exemplary model in an era when the moral and spiritual values of society are in decline.
The President made these remarks yesterday (July 07), delivering a speech at the felicitation ceremony organized by the Archdiocese of Colombo to mark the 50th Ordination Anniversary of His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith’s sacred priesthood. The event was held at the Archbishop’s House in Colombo.
The President stated that His Eminence is deeply engaged in a tireless mission to uphold social harmony and spiritual upliftment. He is a statesman who has rendered a significant service to the country, a theological scholar capable of articulating the teachings of the Bible with clarity, a powerful orator with the ability to awaken society and above all, a true humanitarian whose influence extends beyond these roles.
The President further affirmed that every possible step will be taken to ensure justice for the victims of the Easter Sunday attacks, without allowing the passage of time to obscure the truth. He emphasized that this is a challenge the government must confront, even within its own institutions and no matter how difficult it may be, justice must be served.
Addressing the gathering, His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith reflected on his 50 years of priestly service and commended President Anura Kumara Disanayake for his success in ending a 75-year era of autocratic rule. He also expressed appreciation for the President’s efforts to dismantle a political culture rooted in spreading division among ethnic communities and emphasized the need for a new approach as the country moves towards becoming a prosperous nation.
On this occasion, to mark the 50th Ordination Anniversary of His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith’s priesthood, a commemorative stamp and first-day cover were officially presented to the President.
His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith was born in 1947 in the Polgahawela area of Kurunegala. He was ordained as a priest on June 29, 1975, at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, by Pope Paul VI. Thereafter, he served in various roles including Assistant Parish Priest, Acting Parish Priest, Lecturer in theology and professor at the seminary. He is proficient in multiple languages including Sinhala, Tamil, English, German, French, Spanish and Indonesian.
In 1991, under the leadership of then-Archbishop His Eminence Nicholas Marcus Fernando, he was appointed as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Colombo, with his episcopal ordination taking place at the Basilica of Our Lady of Lanka in Tewatte.
Subsequently, on June 16, 2009, Malcolm Ranjith was appointed as the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Colombo. A year later, on November 20, 2010, he was elevated to the rank of Cardinal at the Basilica of Saint Lawrence in Italy. With this appointment, His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith became the second Sri Lankan to receive the blessing of holding the title of Cardinal. He has held numerous positions both nationally and internationally, including serving as chair of several international assemblies.
His Eminence has been the recipient of numerous international accolades, including the Thomas Aquinas Medal for Religious Studies awarded by the Thomas Aquinas College in the United States and the 7th Giuseppe Sciacca International Award for Cultural Achievement, conferred in 2008 by the President of the Italian Republic. A respected writer as well, he has contributed a multitude of articles to journals and newspapers.
Ven. Anunayaka of the Malwathu Chapter, Most Venerable Niyangoda Vijithasiri Thero and Ven. Dr. Omalpe Sobhitha Nayaka Thero extended their wishes during the occasion.
The event was also graced by the Maha Sangha of the three Nikayas, religious leaders from all faiths, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka, Bishop Harold Anthony Perera, the Charge de Affairs of the Apostolic Nunciature Msgr. Roberto Lucchini, Auxiliary Bishops of Colombo Most Rev. Maxwell Silva and Most Rev. Anthony Jayakody, other Catholic clergy, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, several Ministers and Members of Parliament, Commanders of the Tri-Forces, the Acting Inspector General of Police, Ambassadors and many other distinguished invitees.
Mohamed Sheriff Abdul Wazeeth was sworn in as a Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) National List MP before Speaker – Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne today (July 08).
He took over the Parliamentary seat that became vacant following the resignation of M.S. Naleem.
It has been reported that opposition ranks are planning to table a No-Confidence Motion against the Speaker – Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne.
According to political sources, many opposition parties have already agreed to support the move, with a final decision expected to be reached today (July 08).
The NCM is said to be based on several allegations of the Speaker obtaining additional benefits, misusing powers of his office and acting in a biased manner, favouring the ruling party.
Meanwhile, during a Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) group meeting yesterday, criticisms have been raised on certain facilities and privileges the Speaker is said to have obtained.
In recent weeks, several opposition MPs, including Dayasiri Jayasekara, have publicly criticised the Speaker’s conduct in Parliament.