The President of the Sri Lanka China Friendship Association Mr. Ananda Goonatilleke, delivered a speech at the event of “Glory of Sri Lanka – China Friendship” The 73rd Anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, organized by Association for Sri Lanka – China Social and Cultural Cooperation in Collaboration with Sri Lanka China Friendship Association, and other friendship associations. This was held at Kings Court, Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo on 28th of September 2022. The full speech is appearing below.
“The Chief Guest of this Ceremonial Forum, Hon. Dinesh Gunawardena, the Prime Minister of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. The Guest of Honor, His Excellency Qi Zhenhong, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China in Sri Lanka. Lady Jin Qian the spouse of His Excellency Ambassador.
The Counsellors and officers of the Chinese Embassy present here as special guests today. Distinguish Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen.
Today, being 28th September 2022, we are in the lineup of a few historic events. Three day later from today, October 01st marks the 73rd Anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, and then within a few days from today, on October 16th, the epos making 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, attended by 2296 party delegates will be declared open by General Secretary of the CPC, President Xi Jinping.
A week back, on 21 st of September 2022, we have marked the 72nd Anniversary of the establishment of our organization, the Sri Lanka – China Friendship Association, then under the name of Ceylon – China Friendship Union, with present Sri Lankan Prime Minister’s Mother Madam Kusuma Gunawardena, M.P. as the first Chairperson. We are proud to recall that our Association was established by our original organizers the Ceylon Communist Party, on the 21st of September 1950; exactly one year after the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference was called in Beijing with Mao Zedong as the inaugural Chairman.
External forces, media mongers of imperialist, hegemonic and expansionist enemies and their agents have unleashed and are still spreading a torrent of anti-China propaganda. We, the SLCFA are confident that the threefold factors of the Communist Party of China, the correct political guideline, the socio-economic strength, and the long-standing diplomacy based on the five principles of peaceful coexistence will definitely standup like an everlasting Great Wall to defeat and to crush all of hostile factors.
Since the beginning, the government of Sri Lanka, the progressive forces led by the organized working class, and the people, stood by the Victory of Chinese Revolution and the People’s Republic of China. Our country was the 13th nation of the world to recognize the new China in 1950 as a sovereign independent state , then to establish bilateral trade agreement named as the Rubber Rice Pact in 1952, to establish diplomatic relations between our two countries in 1957 and to stick unconditionally to One China Policy until the day China took up her correct position and lawful seat of the United Nations Organization, and then onwards to this day for the reunification of China and the return of Taiwan island to China.
The SLCFA firmly believes from its begging that relationship between our two nations stand on principles of peaceful coexistence, the struggle against colonialism, imperialism and hegemonism of all forms and would continuously be so.
During the past and especially today, Sri Lanka – China Friendship Association has stood up on numerous occasions to combat imperialistic propaganda and to forcefully emphasize our position along with China and correct international positions China upholds. We the SLCFA never hide words or our principled stand when we make our voice heard world over. We will definitely continue to do so. As we celebrate the Chinese national day, let’s work together to overcome economic, social, political and diplomatic difficulties of the man kind in order to create a peaceful world and pave way for collective development for the humanity.”