This event followed Zhang Meiying’s visit to President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Ms. Meiying, the Vice Chairwoman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference of the People’s Republic of China, was the chief guest to the inauguration ceremony of the ‘Nelum Pokuna’ Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre yesterday.

During the meeting, the President thanked Ms. Meiying for attending a historic moment, and expressed his gratitude to the Government of China for gifting a fully fledged theatre to Sri Lanka.

She conveyed her best wishes to the President and said that the bilateral relations between the two countries have been strengthened by the President’s recent visit to China. China always admires the sovereignty of Sri Lanka, she added.

These events were attended by Minister of External Affairs Prof. G.L. Peiris, Minister of Culture and Aesthetic Affairs T. B. Ekanayake, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga, Secretary Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa and a Chinese delegation.