Book comprising academic essays on China-SL relations launched

From left: Pathfinder Foundation Indo-Lanka Initiatives Director Admiral Dr. Jayanath Colombage, The Island Editor Prabath Sahabandu, Pathfinder Foundation Executive Director/Sri Lanka Cooperate Studies Centre China Director Luxman Siriwardena, Daily FT Editor Nisthar Cassim, Ven Dr. Nadalgamuwe Dhammadinna Thero, Central Bank Governor Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy, Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka Charge d’Affaires Pang Chunxue, Ambassador Bernard Goonetilleke, Lake House All English Newspapers Editor-In-Chief Lalith Allahakkoon and Daily Mirror Editor Kesara Abeywardena

The first copy of the  “The Island of the Lion and the Land of the Dragon - Essays on Sri Lanka – China relations”, which comprises of essays by prominent Sri Lankan and Chinese academics was handed over to all the leading daily English newspaper editors by Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka Charge d’ Affaires Pang Chunxue.

The Pathfinder Foundation (PF) and the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR) jointly published the book. The launch event was held at the Chinese Cultural Center Colombo. 

Lake House All English Newspapers Editor-In-Chief Lalith Allahakkoon, The Island Editor Prabath Sahabandu, Daily FT Editor Nisthar Cassim, and Daily Mirror Editor Kesara Abeywardena collected the first copies from Pang.

The publication was edited by H.M.G.S. Palihakkara, and Sri Lankan contributors include: Ven. Dr. Nedalagamuwe Dhammadinna Thero, Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy, Dr. P.B. Jayasundara, Prof. Rohan Samarajiva, Prof. Sirimal Abeyratne, Ambassador Bernard Goonetilleke and Admiral Dr. Jayanath Colombage. Chinese contributors include: Dr. Li Li, Dr. Wang Shida, Dr. Hu Shisheng, Dr. Zhao Hongtu and Dr. Lou Chunhao.

Ambassador Bernard Goonetilleke briefed the gathering who participated as invitees to the launch of the academic literature collection and said: “This is a significant event for the historic relationship of both countries. 60 years of diplomatic relations have given an opportunity to review the history to present. Milinda Moragoda founder of Pathfinder Foundation discussed with Sri Lankan and Chinese specialist to create this publication, credit should go to him,”Goonetilleke added.

The chief guest at the event was Central Bank Governor Dr. Indrajith Coomaraswamy, and he delivered the keynote address under the theme ‘Promoting Chinese investments in Sri Lanka: A way forward’.

Ven. Dr. Nadalgamuwe Dhammadinna Thero, Ambassador H.M.G.S. Palihakkara and Sri Lanka’s first Secretary General of BIMSTEC Sumith Nakandala also participated in the event.