Prime Minister of Sri Lanka – Dinesh Gunawardena arrived in Beijing earlier today (March 25) for a six-day official visit to China at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang.
He was received by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister – Sun Weidong and officials of the Sri Lankan embassy in Beijing including and Acting Ambassador K.K. Yoganandan.
According to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, President Xi Jinping will meet with PM Gunawardena. The visiting Sri Lankan PM will also hold talks with his Chinese counterpart as well as with Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee.
During PM Gunawardena’s visit, the leaders will have an in-depth exchange of views on continuing China-Sri Lanka traditional friendship, deepening political mutual trust, expanding practical cooperation, and on international and regional issues of common interest, Chinese state media reports.
The Prime Minister will be the Chief Guest at China’s premier annual international conference in Boao in Hainan. This year’s Boao forum, which will be held under the theme – ’Asia and the World: Common Challenges, Shared Responsibilities’, will be attended by several heads of state and top-level foreign delegates.
He was accompanied by State Ministers Shehan Semasinghe and Ashoka Priyantha, MP Yadamini Gunawardena, Chinese Ambassador in Sri Lanka – Qi Zhenhong, Secretary to the Prime Minister Anura Dissanayake and senior officials.
According to the Prime Minister’s media, the PM is also scheduled to visit China Harbour Headquarters, Huawei, Zhongguancun Environmental Protection Park, National Satellite Meteorological Centre in Beijing and Academy of Tropical Sciences in Hainan. In Shanghai, he will visit Alipay, CTripp, Dilmah Tea and Universal Energy in addition to meetings with Shanghai officials.
The Public Security Ministry has denied media reports claiming that the Public Security minister – Ananda Wijepala had met Nissanka Senadhipathi.
The Minister’s media secretary had clarified this in a letter to Acting IGP Priyantha Weerasuriya. Adding that the neither the Minister or a representative had ever met Senadhipathi as claimed, the letter calls for proper investigations into the fake news and legal action against those responsible.
A special transport allowance and a combined allowance will be provided to police personnel assigned to ensure the safety of devotees attending the exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Siri Dalada Vandanawa) in Kandy, the police said.
The measure has been taken over the instructions of the Acting IGP, in consideration of the fact that these police personnel will be on continuous day and night duty for over 10 days, away from their regular stations and incurring additional personal expenses.
The Bill to repeal the Online Safety Act, No. 9 of 2024, and other regulations concerning the Act, has been gazetted.
The Online Safety Bill was passed by a majority vote in Parliament on Jan. 24, 2024.
The Bill that has been gazetted was submitted by opposition MP Ravi Karunanayake.
On Feb. 28, 2025, MP Karunanayake submitted a private member’s Bill to the Parliament Secretary-General, aiming to repeal the controversial Online Safety Act.
