President Hu Jintao expressed his condolences to President Mahinda Rajapaksa on the assassination of Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, when the two Presidents met at the Yalong Bay Resort in China today.

The Chinese President said he recognized the loss created in the Sri Lankan Cabinet by the assassination of the Minister by the LTTE, and also noted with sympathy that President Rajapaksa was meeting him at the time the late Minister Fernandopulle’s funeral was taking place in Colombo.

At this meeting President Hu Jintao assured Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa that China will stand by Sri Lanka in its efforts to counter terrorism.