China’s ambassador to Sri Lanka continued his tour of the Tamil homeland today, visiting the historic Jaffna Library and Nallur Kandaswamy Temple, as well as meeting with fishing communities in the peninsula and in Mannar.
The visit comes as Beijing looks to “to maintain contacts between Jaffna and China in the near future,” according to Ambassador Qi Zhenhong who addressed reporters whilst visiting the Jaffna library earlier today.
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“This is my first visit to Jaffna,” he said, speaking alongside Jaffna’s mayor V Mannivannan. “Today I am delighted to pay a visit to the Jaffna Public Library which has a long history.”
After presenting donations to the library, Zhenhong was taken on a tour of the historic institution, which was burned down by a Sri Lankan state-backed mob in 1981. The ambassador, reportedly spoke of how China would look at introducing an e-library section to the library to help modernise its facilities.
Ambassador Qi Zhenhong started his first visit to the Northern Province of #SriLanka from the #Jaffna Public Library.
— Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka (@ChinaEmbSL) December 15, 2021
Laptops and books were donated to enhance the capacity building and enlarge the collection of this well-known library in Asia.#CNLK65 pic.twitter.com/MoHFgFkKRS
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One of the more notable sections of the building Zhenhong visited was "Indian Corner" of the library, which was launched in 2015.
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His visit comes amidst brewing tensions between Beijing and New Delhi, following the Sri Lankan government’s announcement that a Chinese project to develop three hybrid power plants in Delft Island, Analativu and Nainativu, worth an estimated USD$12 million, has been cancelled and reportedly given to India instead.
The ambassador’s visit also follows a trip by a Tamil National Alliance-led delegation to Washington, where various Tamil representatives held high-level discussions with the United States administration.
During his time in Jaffna, the ambassador also visited the famous Nallur temple, where he donned traditional clothing and prayed inside the temple.
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“Ambassador Qi Zhenhong paid homage to the historic Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil at #Jaffna with full respect to the Hindu religious and cultural tradition,” said the Chinese embassy’s Twitter account, which posted photographs of his visit. “Amb. Qi also made a donation to the Kovil and shared pooja with the needy citizens outside after his visit.”
Ambassador Qi Zhenhong paid homage to the historic #Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil at #Jaffna with full respect to the Hindu religious and cultural tradition.
— Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka (@ChinaEmbSL) December 16, 2021
Amb. Qi also made a donation to the Kovil and shared pooja with the needy citizens outside after his visit.#CNLK65 pic.twitter.com/rAZwPLGLae
Whilst in Jaffna, Zhenhong also met with Tamil fishing communities. Accompanied by Sri Lanka’s fisheries minister and war crimes accused EPDP leader Douglas Devananda, the Chinese envoy attended an event held at the District Fishermen's Association and presented assistance schemes to beneficiaries in the region.
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To extend solidarity to fight current #COVID19 difficulties together, Ambassador Qi Zhenhong donated food parcels, fishing gears and facial masks (total value of 20 million LKR) to 2,500 fishman families in #Jaffna and #Mannar today during his visit.
— Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka (@ChinaEmbSL) December 16, 2021
#CNLK65 pic.twitter.com/9nkcK09AMB
He also made a similar visit to Mannar, where he distributed food parcels and other items to fishermen. A total of approximately Rs. 20 million was distributed across the North.
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A heavy Sri Lankan security presence was also seen across the region, as the ambassador undertook his first trip to the North.
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