As an ancient Chinese poem goes, “a bosom friend afar brings a distant land near.” Currently, when the Chinese are concertedly fighting COVID-19, Sri Lankan friends from afar send their blessings in their traditional way.
On February 1, the Association for Sri Lanka-China Social and Cultural Cooperation and the Sri Lanka China Buddhist Friendship Association held prayer meetings at Bandaranaike Memorial International Convention Hall and Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya in Colombo. Ruwanchandra, secretary of Sri Lankan Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, members of various friendship associations, representatives of Buddhism and hundreds of people from all walks of life attended the events and lit oil lamps and candles.
Abeysekera, chairman of the Association for Sri Lanka-China Social and Cultural Cooperation, said Sri Lanka and China are sincere friends sharing weal and woe. The Chinese government and people have greatly contributed to Sri Lanka’s peaceful development over these years. Bearing empathy for the Chinese friends suffering from the epidemic, he sincerely prayed for them in the distance, and firmly believed that the great Chinese nation would overcome the disease and construct a more prosperous and beautiful home.
Ajith, vice-chairman of the Sri Lanka China Buddhist Friendship Association, said that the event was held to pray for COVID-19 patients in China and other countries, and wish them to get well soon. He expressed his belief that under the leadership of the Chinese government, the Chinese people will surely overcome the disease and usher in a more prosperous future.
Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka-China Journalists Forum held a Bodhi Dharma Assembly on the evening of February 5 to express their firm support for China’s fight against COVID-19.
