Secretary of Defense General Kamal Gunaratne (Retd.) Yesterday thanked Chinese Parliamentarian and Minister of Defense General Wei Fengge for the Chinese Government’s support to Sri Lanka in the recent resolution tabled against Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council.
A bilateral meeting between Sri Lanka and the People’s Republic of China was held at the Shangri-La Hotel in Colombo yesterday (28) to coincide with the official visit of Chinese Minister of State and Minister of Defense General Wei Feng to Sri Lanka.
The Sri Lankan delegation led by Defense Secretary General Kamal Gunaratne (Retd.) Held discussions with the Chinese delegation led by General Feng.
His Excellency Qi Shenhong, Ambassador of China in Colombo, Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage, Secretary to the Ministry of External Affairs of Sri Lanka and the Commanders of the three Armed Forces were also present on the occasion.
Recalling the long standing bilateral relations between the two countries, General Gunaratne said that China has historically been an ally of Sri Lanka in a number of areas, including Buddhism, trade, infrastructure development and global relations.
Gen. Feng said he hoped to work with Sri Lanka to enhance cooperation and further enhance bilateral relations between the two countries.
At the invitation of Maj. Gen. Vijitha Ravipriya (retd.), Secretary General of Defense and Director General of Customs of Sri Lanka and President and Founding Member of the Sri Lanka Past Pupils Association of the National Defense University of China, Mr. Feng launched the Grade Alumni of the National Defense University of Sri Lanka.
The official visit of the high level Chinese Defense Representatives also marked the official signing of the Military Assistance Protocol between the two countries.
To mark the occasion, a symbolic exchange of gifts took place between the Secretary Defense of Sri Lanka, the Commanders of the three Armies and the Chinese Representative General Feng.