The 9th China-South Asia Expo opened yesterday (June 19) in Kunming, the capital of southwest China’s Yunnan Province.
The five-day event is a key platform for economic and trade exchanges between China and South Asia. Exhibitors from over 50 countries are expected to participate, including full representation from all South Asian nations.

This year, Sri Lanka has been designated as the Guest of Honor Country at the Expo.

Notably, China-Sri Lanka bilateral trade reached a record high of USD 5.36 billion in 2024, representing a 13.4% year-on-year increase. This makes Sri Lanka China’s fastest-growing trade partner in South Asia.

The Sri Lankan pavilion was officially declared open by Sri Lanka’s Minister of Trade and Commerce – Wasantha Samarasinghe and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment – Arun Hemachandra, who jointly led the country’s high-level delegation to the prestigious regional event.

Several spells of showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in the Nuwara-Eliya, Kandy, Galle and Matara districts today (June 20), the Department of Meteorology said.

Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in the Uva province and in the Ampara and Batticaloa districts during the afternoon or night.

Fairly strong winds of about 30-40 kmph can be expected at times over the Western slopes of the central hills and in the Northern, North-central, Southern and North-western provinces and in the Trincomalee district.

The general public has been requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

The Department of Ayurveda, under the Ministry of Health of Government of Sri Lanka and the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre (SVCC), the cultural arm of the High Commission of India in Colombo jointly organised International Day of Yoga (IDY) celebrations today (June 19) from 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM, across the island. 

In a historic first, this IDY event was simultaneously held in 113 Ayurveda hospitals, including teaching and research institutions across all nine provinces of Sri Lanka along with four universities, which also joined this landmark initiative. In addition to this island-wide observance, the main 11th IDY 2025 event will be held on Saturday, June 21, 2025, at 6:30 AM at Independence Square, Colombo, organised by the High Commission of India in Colombo. Simultaneous celebrations will also take place in Jaffna, Kandy, and Hambantota, led by Indian diplomatic missions in these regions, further amplifying the spirit of yoga across the country.
The Department of Ayurveda under the Ministry of Health of Government of Sri Lanka is a key government institution responsible for the promotion, regulation, and preservation of Ayurveda and traditional indigenous medicine in Sri Lanka. As part of its ongoing commitment to holistic health and well-being, The Department of Ayurveda promotes Yoga as a vital tool in Ayurvedic healthcare delivery, education and research.

This collaborative celebration with SVCC marks the first time that the entire network of Ayurveda institutions in Sri Lanka participated in the International Day of Yoga, in a unified manner. The SVCC extended generous support by providing yoga mats, instructional books, and curated video contents to all participating centres to facilitate the event.

This island-wide event underscored the growing global recognition of Yoga as a powerful tool for physical, mental, and spiritual well-being, while also strengthening the traditional healthcare ties between Sri Lanka and India.

The theme of IDY 2025 “Yoga for One Earth, One Health” reflects the profound connection between individual well-being and the health of our planet. Yoga, as an ancient practice rooted in harmony between mind, body, and nature, promotes a sustainable and balanced lifestyle essential for global health and environmental consciousness. This universal message was powerfully endorsed by the Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi, whose historic proposal at the United Nations General Assembly in 2014 led to the declaration of June 21st as the International Day of Yoga. Since then, Yoga Day has become a global movement, inspiring millions across the world to embrace yoga as a way to cultivate inner peace and collective well-being.