China, SriLanka traditionally friendly neighbours: Xi
February 4, 2015, 4:18 am

File photo of Diyathalawa army camp, Sri Lanka [Xinhua]

Chinese President Xi Jinping Wednesday congratulated his Sri Lankan counterpart Maithripala Sirisena on the latter’s 67th National Day and said the countries were traditionally friendly neighbours.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang also sent a message to his Sri Lankan counterpart Ranil Wickremesinghe to express his congratulations, Xinhua reported.

In his message, Xi said China attaches great importance to its ties with Sri Lanka and stands ready to work with the South Asian country to promote powerful development of the strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries featuring sincere mutual assistance and friendship.

Meanwhile, the US has sent Assistant Secretary of State Nisha Biswal to re-engage with the South Asian country after years of strained ties. Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa had pushed back US-led efforts for an international human rights probe into a military campaign that crushed the Tamil Tigers in 2009.

The island nation has more than $4 billion worth of Chinese-backed investments, including a $1.4 billion project now under construction of offices, hotels, apartment buildings, and shopping centers on reclaimed land in Colombo that is the largest foreign investment in the country’s history. The leading provider of loans to Sri Lanka, China is also financing a $1.3 coal power plant and $1 billion highway.

Contrary to media reports and analysis, however, Rajitha Senaratne, a Cabinet spokesman, said Sri Lanka does not “need to tilt towards any side.”

“China has been a historical friend of ours,” he was quoted as saying by Associated Press.

TBP and Agencies