Charge d’affairs of the Chinese embassy in Colombo – Mr. Hu Wei points out that a visit by the spiritual leader – Dalai Lama could damage the friendship between Sri Lanka and China.
He said this during an exclusive interview with ‘Sri Lanka Mirror’ at the Nellligala Temple, Kandy, after the conclusion of the Fa Xian project in Kandy district.
Explaining the mutual trust between the two countries is based on the ‘One China policy’, Mr. Hu explained that Tibet is not an independent country but a part of China, just like Jaffna or Kandy are a part of Sri Lanka.
He further noted that during his trip to Kandy, he had talks with the Buddhist monks including the Maha Nayaka Theros, who assured him that none of them had invited the Dalai Lama to visit Sri Lanka.
Working hard for a solution to the debt issue
Speaking on the debt restructuring process, Mr. Hu said that they have been talking to the Sri Lankan government since the debt default was announced but things got delayed with the situation last year and government change.
“It doesn’t matter what happened before but we are trying to focus on what is happening now and in the future. At this moment, my colleagues in Beijing are working very hard to find a solution for the debt issue,” he said.
Time to do more
Speaking on the future steps of the Fa Xian project, Mr. Hu also said that they hope to cover the entire island with the project and they are talking to Beijing to let more Chinese people know of the difficulties faced by Sri Lankans at this juncture.
“I think they are more than happy to extend their helping hand,” Mr. Hu said, adding that all Sri Lankans are their friends regardless of the city they live, their ethnicity or their religious belief.
“Just like what you did before for us, now it is time for us to do more for our Sri Lankan friends because you are in difficulties… When it is a good time, everybody is your friend but when it is a bad time, you know who is your true friend,” he added.
The Fa Xian Charity Project was conducted in Kandy on 11th & 12th Jan.
As a donation by the People’s Republic of China, dry rations boxes were distributed to 9,600 disadvantaged families of all ethnicities through several temples in the Kandy district, including the Temple of the Tooth and Nelligala Temple.
(Pics & Video : Kelum Shivantha | Shanika Jayasekara)
Venerable Ajahn Brahmawanso Thera, who was held back at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) for 12 hours, said instead of having an inquiry about how he missed the flight, authorities should have an inquiry on how Sri Lanka can have a better country with more forgiveness.
“I learnt that the President has initiated an inquiry about how I missed my flight. Someone made a little mistake. It is not a big deal. So please instead of having an inquiry about how I missed my flight, instead have an inquiry how you can have a better country with more forgiveness. Allow people to make mistakes because one thing which I’ve noticed when you allow people to make a mistake, they’re not afraid of making mistakes. They make less mistakes,” the Thera said in a video.
The Thera said he never knew the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka was at the lounge that evening.
“I am a well-known monk. So, you go in the VIP lounge. I never knew the prime minister of Sri Lanka at the lounge that evening. He was going off to some big event over in Bangkok. Everything was orderly and plenty of time to wait for the flight. When it came to the boarding time, I asked if we are boarding soon. They said don’t worry, everything is on schedule. By the time they took me to the gate, that is when I saw the boarding bridge was moving away from the aircraft. The plane took off. I missed my flight. Nothing to do with anything which I was doing. I just got taken out only seen the lounge. Supposed to be VIP is supposed to look after VIPs please never become a VIP. You tend to lose your board. If I had just walked out by myself no problem, but you can’t exist soldiers outside,” he said.
A total of 31 students of the University of Jaffna have been suspended with immediate effect.
The 31 students of the Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce have been suspended following a brawl between second-year and third-year students on Friday.
Following preliminary investigations, 16 second-year students and 15 third-year students have been banned from entering the University premises until further notice.
They will also not be allowed to enter or remain inside University hostels.