“Ruthless Floods, Deep Bonds of Friendship”: Bank of China Colombo Branch and China Cultural Centre Donate to Flood-Affected Schools

The Bank of China Colombo Branch and the China Cultural Centre in Sri Lanka today held their second “Ruthless Floods, Deep Bonds of Friendship” disaster-relief and educational-assistance donation ceremony in Colombo, Western Province, extending vital support to students affected by recent floods.

Under this initiative, relief supplies worth approximately LKR 2.7 million were distributed to 434 students from three flood-affected schools. The donations included essential items such as clothing, schoolbags, stationery, and notebooks to support the immediate educational needs of affected children.

The ceremony was held at Presbyterian Girls’ School and brought together nearly 300 participants, including education officials, school principals, student representatives, and community leaders.

Key attendees and speakers at the event included Mr. Liu Ying, Country Manager of Bank of China Colombo Branch; Mr. Ni Lisheng, Director of the China Cultural Centre in Sri Lanka; Mr. Harsha Wijewardana, Secretary of the Western Province Provincial Council; Mr. Palitha Nanayakkara, Commissioner of the Colombo Municipal Council; Mr. P. R. Dewabandu, Director of Zonal Education, Colombo; and Mr. Dunil, Acting President of the Association for Sri Lanka–China Social and Cultural Cooperation.

The welcome address was delivered by Ms. Thamara Kumari Disanayake, Principal of Presbyterian Girls’ School.

Messages of Solidarity

Addressing the gathering, the Chinese representatives highlighted that the friendship between China and Sri Lanka spans more than a thousand years and is rooted in the spirit of mutual assistance during times of hardship. They emphasized that supporting Sri Lanka during flood disasters and contributing to the recovery of education through public-welfare initiatives form an integral part of their social responsibility.

They expressed hope that the assistance would help students overcome present challenges and inspire them to grow into future ambassadors of China–Sri Lanka friendship.

Sri Lankan representatives expressed heartfelt appreciation for the timely and generous support extended by the Bank of China and the China Cultural Centre. They noted that China has consistently stood with Sri Lanka during periods of crisis and natural disasters, and voiced confidence that the enduring friendship between the two nations would continue to deepen through cooperation across multiple sectors.

Ceremony Highlights

During the event, relief supplies were officially handed over to student representatives. Students conveyed their gratitude through speeches, songs, and traditional dance performances, adding a cultural dimension to the ceremony.

This initiative follows a previous donation programme held on January 2 at Sri Chandananda Buddhist College in Kandy, where the same partnership provided assistance to flood-affected students in the Central Province.

The organisers reaffirmed their commitment to continuing humanitarian and educational support initiatives in Sri Lanka, strengthening people-to-people ties between the two countries.