Grand finals of the speech contest

Nine winners will travel to China

Sri Lanka – China Friendship Association together with the Chinese Association for International Understating organized an island wide oratorical contest for school and tertiary level students in Sri Lanka in Sinahala, English and Tamil medium . The preliminary rounds were held in Anuradhapura, Jaffna and Kandy in keeping with the motive of having geographical variation with the semi finals conducted in SLFI in Colombo on the 10^th of October. The gala final were held on the 17^th of October at the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation and was graced by the Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, the Hon. Karu Jayasuriya, HE Mr. Zhang Baowen, the Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China and HE Mr. Yi Xianglian , the Ambassador in Sri Lanka for China. Hon.A.H.M.Fouzi the State Minister for National Integration ,Mr.Hemantha Premathilake, Add. Secretary Ministry of Education, Mr.Ravi Jayawardena Attorney -at -Law , Chairman Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation graced the occasion as special invitees.

Nine winners were selected at the finals, and they will be awarded a comprehensive study tour of China spanning 07 days in April 2016 with the runners – up awarded lavish prizes of computers and tabs. Eminent panel judges of consisting of academics, senior lawyers and media personalities selected the winners .

Mr.Ananda Goonetillake Attorney -at -Law, President  and  Members of the National Executive Committee of the Sri Lanka – China Friendship Association were present at the Final Round of the Contest.

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The enthusiastic participation of a large number of students from the North and East provinces was a encouraging indication that underscored the importance of the positive reconciliation process that is currently in motion to bridge the gulf that exists between communities and cross geographical divides.