Thursday Dec 12, 2024
Thursday Dec 12, 2024
Friday, 21 February 2020 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Real friendship of the Sri Lankan people was given to the Chinese Government and the Chinese people. The friendship between Chine and Sri Lanka dates back thousands of years and one of the pillars of our bilateral relations is that we have each other during difficult times, Chinese Ambassador Cheng Xueyuan.
He said this when a group volunteers from the St. John’s Ambulance Association and Brigade of Sri Lanka met him recently and handed over a letter pledging their condolences for the victims of the coronavirus and expressed their solidarity with the Chinese Government and its people.
In their letter addressed to the Chinese Ambassador, the St. John’s Ambulance Association extended their steadfast hope that the China would be able to overcome this situation. “We strongly believe that the unity, devotion, determination, hard work and uniqueness that exist in the hearts of the Chinese nation will provide tremendous power to defeat the crisis arisen in China.
“As a voluntary organisation in Sri Lanka we believe that, it is our duty to stretch out our hands with assistance in any possible manner at this situation, to mark the China-Sri Lanka friendly relationship and to pay our gratitude to the China Government. However, considering the current status, we are vigilant here empathically to share your pain, agony, suffering and discomforts till this awful situation is successfully over.”
In response, the Chinese Ambassador said: “It is indeed a difficult time in China. Only when you are in difficult times you know who your real friends are and during the past several weeks we received much encouragement from the Sri Lankan Government, including the President and Prime Minister and the people of Sri Lanka.
“Also our friends from the St. John’s Ambulance Service and once again you coming here today show how friendly you are towards China. Today I would also like to take this opportunity to give you a brief you regarding the situation in China and the battle with the epidemic.
“Under the strong leadership of President Xi Jingping and the communist party of China and the Government and people of China have taken every possible measure to prevent the spread of the coronavirus and win the battle with this epidemic.”
He noted that the incubation period of the coronavirus is around 7-14 days and most strict quarantine measures have been followed to prevent the virus from spreading. “We hope that within the next 7-10 days the situation would improve and the number of cases will begin to reduce. The whole country has been united and mobilised and the 1.4 billion population in China have volunteered for self-isolation. We don’t know who is infected and the best way to prevent its spread is to stay isolated.”
The Ambassador pointed out two main concerns for Sri Lanka, one being the Chinese workers and the other being the tourists. “For these two main possible dangers or threats, we don’t need to worry because the Chinese Embassy and the Sri Lankan Government have taken many measures. The number of the Chinese workers returning to China for the holidays is very less because they don’t receive holidays here.
“For those who have gone home, which is a very small number, they have been asked to stay home and not return. For those who are required to return, they have been asked to have themselves checked and undergo the quarantine period. As for the Chinese tourists they have been issued instructions to cancel all tour groups for the moment across the border.
“And since the end of the New Year season, no tour group has been permitted to cross the border. All Chinese tourists staying in Sri Lanka at present are in good condition and they have undergone medical checks and their reports have been sent to the travel agents and to the Consular department of the embassy on a daily basis. Therefore, there is no need to panic or to have any fear.”
Ambassador Xueyuan added that he had recently done several interviews with the media and he urged the Sri Lankan public to have more confidence in China and assured that there is no need to fear an outbreak of this virus in Sri Lanka.
“We have very high supervision and vigilance. Now the number of Chinese tourists are very little in Sri Lanka. The WHO has highly praised all measures taken by the Chinese Government. We are not taking these measures only for China but for the whole world.
“We have taken all measures to cut-off the spread of the virus. As of today there around 900 cases of deaths and except for the Philippines there have not been any deaths reported, which is a clear indication of China’s commitment to curtail this virus.”
He was very touched by the gesture of the St. Johns Ambulance Association to reach out to the Chinese Embassy and China during their difficult time and showing that Sri Lanka is a true friend of China. “Today your visit to the Chinese Embassy is a clear indication of the faith and confidence you have in us and we believe we can overcome this difficulty and win this battle within the next week. Let’s work together for a better future for the Sri Lankan people and the Chinese people.”
Around 17 members of the St. John’s Ambulance including St. John’s Ambulance Association and Brigade of Sri Lanka Chairman Dr. Sarath Samarage, Commander Prasantha Lal De Alwis, District Commissioner M.D.P.D. Senanayake, Additional District Commissioner Sulochana Gamage, Treasurer M.K. Jayantha and Secretary Anusha Peiris and Dr. Mihira Wickramarachchi of the Wish Foundation also participated in this meeting.
