News

Chinese builders in Sri Lanka pledge patriotism on China’s National Day

Published

3 years ago

03/10/2021

MNN

by Tang Lu- COLOMBO, Oct. 2 (Xinhua)

It was a rainy day in the Sri Lankan capital, but the wet weather did not dampen the enthusiasm of a group of workers from a Chinese construction company to gather here Friday for a flag-raising ceremony to salute China’s symbolic five-star red flag.

“Time flies and we are greeting a new National Day today. Let’s wish our motherland a greater, more prosperous, and powerful state. Let’s strive to attain our goal of 2021 as soon as possible,” said Cui Songming, project manager of Metallurgical Corporation of China Ltd. (MCC) at the Central Expressway Section I construction site near Colombo.

Chinese and Sri Lankan workers work at the Central Expressway Section I construction site near Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Oct. 1, 2021. The Central Expressway project is designed to run through central Sri Lanka to reduce travel time between cities in the country’s western part and to promote economic development for areas along the route. (Xinhua/Tang Lu)

Looking up at the fluttering red flag, Cui said he has been feeling the growing strength of China after spending 13 years working in Sri Lanka.

“China’s rising strength not only provides economic and technical support for our overseas projects, but also gives us a strong sense of pride for our country,” Cui said in his speech.

Cui arrived in Sri Lanka in 2008 when the MCC was building the Colombo-Katunayake Expressway (CKE), the first-ever highway in the country.

“In 2013, Sri Lanka realized its 50-year-long dream of having an expressway, which was completed in time thanks to China’s powerful strength and the dedication of Chinese workers,” Cui said.

It was on this project that Sri Lanka adopted Chinese standards for highway construction for the first time, he added.

Hou Shehu, who is in charge of the company’s contract affairs, came to Sri Lanka almost at the same time as Cui. Over the past years, Hou had only four chances to celebrate Chinese traditional festivals with his family back in China.

“Family is the smallest part of a country, which is composed of numerous families,” Hou said.

“As a worker on China’s ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ projects overseas, we have a sense of mission and responsibility, although sometimes we may even sacrifice ourselves to serve our country,” Hou said.

“We are very happy and proud to see Sri Lanka’s tourism industry flourishing, thanks to our hard work to improve the country’s infrastructure,” he added.

Xiao Shuai, who had planned to return to China after finishing the first project in the Outer Circular Highway-Northern Section II (OCH-NS II) located in the Colombo Metropolitan Region, changed his mind and chose to stay on.

“My vision has become broader after I worked overseas. I felt honored to have the opportunity to serve the country’s ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ projects and be part of Sri Lanka’s development,” Xiao said.

Li Benquan, who is a designer of the Central Expressway Project, grew up in a mountainous village in Guizhou province in remote southwestern China.

He saw with his own eyes how Sri Lankan villagers had suffered from inconveniences caused by bad road conditions, including senior locals who were unable to get timely medical treatment when they fell ill, or children who were denied access to school.

“I could feel the eagerness of the villagers for a new road. I really hope that the highway will be completed as soon as possible so that the quality of life of local residents can be substantially improved,” Li said.

The Central Expressway project is designed to run through central Sri Lanka to reduce travel time between cities in the country’s western part and to promote economic development for areas along the route.

Liu Guohui, a scheduler at the project, has been working in Sri Lanka for more than four years.

“Living conditions here are certainly not as comfortable as in China, and the pandemic is more severe than in China. But I’m used to everything here and I get along very well with my Sri Lankan colleagues,” Liu said.

“In April this year, when the COVID situation in Sri Lanka was bad, the Chinese Embassy here helped all of the Chinese workers and our Sri Lankan colleagues get vaccinated as part of the Spring Sprout inoculation program. I felt so proud to be a Chinese at that time,” Liu added.

“Waste no day and never stop progressing,” the motto at the MCC’s worksites, is a constant reminder that work has to be completed on time.

The Central Expressway Project Section 1 has been severely impacted by COVID-19 since it began in September 2020. Due to the pandemic in Sri Lanka, the pace of construction has been disrupted, but the MCC management and workers were straining every nerve to catch up and finish the project as early as possible.

“As the construction is at a critical stage now, all staff should continue to work hard to make up for the lost time, even during our National Day”, said Deputy Managing Director of the MCC Sri Lanka Branch Zhang Xiaolei.

Sarani Arundika Jayasekara, a Sri Lankan healthcare worker in the MCC for the past five years, has been sharing joys and sorrows with the Chinese workers while appreciating their work ethic.

“We are grateful that they have come to Sri Lanka to help build our country,” Sarani said.

News

Third ‘Ahaa’ forum on Monday; opportunity open to send questions

Published

3 hours ago

26/04/2024

The third session of the public forum of ministers, ‘Ahaa’, which translates to ‘Ask’, is slated for Monday night.

The President’s Office said the next session of “Ahaa’ forum, organized by the office in collaboration with state media, PSM, will be held at 8:30pm on Monday night.

This session will feature Transport Minister Mohamed Ameen, Home Minister Ali Ihusan, Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam, Higher Education Minister Dr. Mariyam Mariya and Youth Ministry Ibrahim Waheed.

Members of the public can send the questions they wish to ask these ministers to 300 with the keyword ‘AH’.

The current administration launched and held the first session of ‘Ahaa’ forum on January 25th which featured Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Mohamed Saeed; Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed; Minister of Social and Family Development, Dr. Aishath Shiham; Minister of Sports, Fitness and Recreation, Abdulla Rafiu; and Minister of Construction and Infrastructure, Dr. Abdulla Muththalib.

The second session of the forum, held on February 23rd, featured President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.

A direct portal was launched during the session to allow the public to send their questions and concerns to the President.

Source(s): sun.mv

World

Wang Yi says China supports reconciliation among Palestinian factions

Published

3 hours ago

26/04/2024

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China supports internal reconciliation among different factions of Palestine through dialogue, in a written interview with Al Jazeera Media Network published on Thursday.

The interview covers questions ranging from the Gaza crisis and the Russia-Ukraine conflict to the Taiwan question and China-U.S. relations.

As for the ongoing Gaza conflict, Wang said China will continue to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with Middle East countries and the whole international community to support the just cause of the Palestinian people in restoring their legitimate national rights.

China also supports Palestine’s full membership in the United Nations at an early date and supports establishing the independent State of Palestine and realizing “the Palestinians governing Palestine,” Wang said.

“We call for a more broad-based, more authoritative and more effective international peace conference to set a timetable and a road map for the two-state solution, to promote comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question, and to ultimately realize peaceful coexistence between Israel and Palestine as well as harmony between the Arab and Jewish peoples,” he said.

Wang also said China is deeply concerned about the rising tensions in the Red Sea. “For quite some time, rising tensions in the Red Sea have affected important interests of regional countries, especially the littoral states. They have also heightened the overall security risk of the region and weighed on the global economic recovery.”

“We stand ready to coordinate more closely with regional countries and work together with the international community to continue with our constructive role in restoring peace and stability in the Red Sea at an early date,” Wang added.

In response to the escort mission by the Chinese Navy in the Gulf of Aden and the waters off Somalia, Wang said the mission is not related to the Red Sea situation but authorized by the UN Security Council.

Speaking of the Ukraine crisis, Wang said China’s position on the Ukraine crisis is consistent, unequivocal and transparent, while elaborating on China’s efforts to promote a ceasefire and end the fighting.

“We will work with all parties constructively to promote political settlement of the crisis, and contribute more to regional tranquility and security and enduring world peace,” said the Chinese foreign minister.

In the interview, Wang once again said Taiwan has been an inseparable part of China since ancient times, and the Taiwan question is entirely China’s internal affair.

“We will strive for peaceful reunification with the utmost effort and greatest sincerity. In the meantime, our bottom line is also clear: we will absolutely not allow anyone to separate Taiwan from China in any way,” Wang said.

Answering questions about how China sees the U.S. election and the prospects of China-U.S. relations, Wang said the U.S. election is an internal affair of the United States, and China never interferes in the internal affairs of other countries.

“The China-U.S. relationship cannot go back to its past. But it should, and can fully, have a bright future. China is ready to work with the United States to carry out more win-win cooperation, do more that benefits the whole world, and truly fulfill their respective responsibilities to the international community,” Wang said.

Source(s): CGTN

News

Anti-Defection Bill not applicable to independent parliamentarians

Published

3 hours ago

26/04/2024

The Election Commission of the Maldives (ECM) has clarified that the Anti-Defection Act does not apply to independent parliamentarians, addressing inquiries regarding the enforcement of the Act against newly elected members who wish to join a political party.

Speaking on a programme aired on PSM news, ECM member Hassan Zakariyya disclosed that the commission has initiated legal research with the formation of a dedicated legal team. This move comes amid escalating debates surrounding the eligibility of newly elected parliamentarians to join political parties.

Zakariyya highlighted Article 3 of the Anti-Defection Act, which delineates the circumstances under which someone may be expelled or voluntarily leaves a party. Notably, these instances include events that occur either upon election as a parliamentarian or during their tenure.

Furthermore, Zakariyya referenced Article 79 of the Constitution, which stipulates that Parliament’s term spans five years from its inaugural session. Independently contested and elected members fall outside this jurisdiction, providing clarity on their status regarding party affiliation.

Meanwhile, seven out of the 11 candidates who contested the parliamentary elections independently have joined the ruling party, People’s National Congress (PNC). The party has formally notified the ECM of this change.

Source(s): PsmNews