Sri Lankan first lady: China is a homey country
- By Zhang Fang
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E-mail China.org.cn, May 30, 2013
Even during her short stay in China, the first lady of Sri Lanka still manages to keep up her morning routine by getting up around 5:00 a.m., going for a walk in a nearby park and then visiting a church.
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The Sri Lankan first lady accompanied her husband on his four-day trip to China, from May 27 until May 30. [Zhang Fang/China.org.cn] |
"I like China more than any other country because it's so homey for me and the people here are so nice," explained the first lady. After having visited China several times already, she spoke highly of the country.
Shiranthi Rajapaksa, wife of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, has been engaged in improving women and children's rights in Sri Lanka for decades now.
She joined her husband on his four-day trip to China, running from May 27 until May 30.
This time around, she reserved one day in her schedule to visit a kindergarten and an orphanage located in the suburbs of Beijing and brought along gifts for the local children.
During a meeting with the All-China Women's Federation on Wednesday, Shiranthi Rajapaksa said she owns a charity organization in Sri Lanka with eight national branches which mainly take care of children with autism, treat them and -- if the children can adapt to life in everyday society -- will take them to school.
The charity also helps people that face adversities in life, for example by enabling poor students to attend school by giving them free textbooks or helping poor patients receive hospital treatment.
In terms of women's rights, she said Sri Lankan women still face a life which basically confines them to their families as most of them don't have jobs like Chinese women do. In the future, she hopes to help them better deal with these issues and challenges, and expects more woman-to-woman exchanges between Sri Lanka and China.
"I am very much looking for the further development of our friendship and creating stronger cooperation between the two countries," the first lady said.
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