Sri Lankan ambassador: relations are all about people
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The ambassador made clear his view that friendship between countries depends on good people-to-people relations. He smiled as he recounted his personal experiences.
"I'm a strong believer that people are the foundation of any relations," the ambassador said. "People to people means we are a family like brotherhood. We understand each other's culture and religion, what you have and what you don't have. Then you try to help each other."
He said the two countries' universities and schools are working together very closely. He recalled an occasion when young Chinese students were about to leave Sri Lanka after an exchange visit. The Sri Lankan students didn't want them to leave. All the kids cried and hugged each other. They spoke each other's language and sang each other's songs. "We talk a lot about big things in the world, but many people focus on small things. If you have this understanding, if you believe in this friendship, then we don't have to worry about anything," the ambassador said.
Ambassador Karunatilaka Amunugama talked warmly about his travels around China and his particular affection for Yunnan Province.
"I've been in China for close to four years, but even if I stayed here for 40 years, I don't think that I would be able to understand or finish my discovery of this country. China has so many things to see. [Different parts of China] are different from their cultures, people, social behavior patterns and trade. I always observe and appreciate this beauty," said the ambassador.
Talking about Yunnan Province, he said he particularly liked the traditional culture of its different ethnic groups, especially their languages and music. "They have some things that modern people don't have and understand," he said.
He said direct flights from Kunming, capital city of Yunnan, to Colombo started last October, cutting the journey time between the two countries to just four and a half hours.
The ambassador said that unlike many other parts of the world Sri Lanka had protected its water resources from pollution. The east coast of Sri Lanka is well known for its pristine beaches.
Tourists can see the whole of Sri Lanka in just a few days, the ambassador said. And experiencing Sri Lanka is not just about beaches. Visitors should also take in the country's tea plantations, rainforests, waterfalls and historical monuments in the north.
Last year Sri Lanka recorded the largest number of tourists in its history. This year the country is expecting one million tourists to visit, the ambassador said.
Sri Lanka is building new highways in Colombo that are due to open in 2012. And a new port and airport in Colombo will give a huge boost to trade and tourism, the ambassador said.
Sri Lanka has opened consular offices in Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan Province, and Shanghai. A third, in Guangzhou, the capital city of Guangdong Province, will open soon. Applying for visas is a very straightforward process, the ambassador said.
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