The Embassy of Sri Lanka in China recently (03) launched the “Sri Lanka – China Relations: Community with a Shared Future” tea table book in Beijing, marking 70 years of Sri Lanka Diplomatic Relations with China.

According to the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Beijing, the commemorative publication captures the essence of Sri Lanka’s resilience as a nation by tracing its rich history, civilization and culture. It offers insights into salient features of Sri Lanka that have been recognized for ages as “a land like no other”.

The publication was authored by the distinguished career Ambassador Dato Dr. Ananda Kumarasiri.

The Deputy Director General from the Asian Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cao Jing, Officials of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Diplomatic Corps, Xu Yan of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, officials of the Ministry’s line agencies and state-owned enterprises and several other guests having interests in Sri Lanka participated in the event.

In delivering the opening remarks, Ambassador Majintha Jayesinghe expressed his appreciation to the author, Dato Dr. Ananda Kumarasiri. Recalling the establishment of Diplomatic Relations in 1957, the Sri Lankan Ambassador stated that the impressive tapestry of genuine friendship that exists between our two countries since ancient times has grown exponentially.

Ambassador Majintha Jayesinghe expressed the aspiration that this book will present an insightful account of the rich heritage of Sri Lanka’s relations with China. He hoped that the commemorative publications would encourage future generations to look at the shared history and relations with pride and motivate them to further enhance this unique friendship and goodwill to higher vistas of achievements. 

In his address, Ambassador Dr. Ananda Kumarasiri, among other important observations, pointed out that there is much scope for Sri Lanka and China to collaborate in several fields. In particular, he highlighted that China’s tremendous technological and industrial progress can be harnessed for Sri Lanka to embark on the development of alternative sources of energy, backward integration of Sri Lanka’s primary resources that would ensure value-added exports and also in recycling wastes from various primary resources. (Newswire)

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Avatharanaya, a historical fiction novel by Eranda Ginige, will be launched on 5th August 2025 from 4.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. at the Main Hall of the Sri Sambuddhathva Jayanthi Mandiraya. The event will be attended by H.E. Mahinda Rajapaksa and H.E. Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Published by Sarasavi Publishers, the book is priced at Rs. 950. 

Eranda Ginige weaves a fascinating story of the power struggles between the royal dynasties who ruled the ancient kingdoms of Magadha and Kosala, as well as the Sakya Republic. The narrative pivots around the tragic life of a man and his redemption. Beneath this description of the common fate of human life runs an intriguing philosophical undercurrent. 

The author has attempted to connect the political transformations that occurred immediately prior to the initiation of the Sinhala civilisation, as described in the Mahavamsa. In doing so, Avatharanaya hints at an alternative origin for the Sinhala nation. The author also seeks to portray the characters found in Buddhist literature in a more humanistic light. Written in the style of the early Sinhala novel, Avatharanaya aims to incite nostalgic feelings among today’s readers. 

Eranda Ginige is known to the Sri Lankan audience through his pioneering works, such as Ath Pavura (a reality TV show for social entrepreneurs) and his popular social and political commentary. His other books include ‘Ryan to the Moon’, ‘How to become a Successful Social Entrepreneur’ (in both Sinhala & Tamil), and ‘Republic’ (in Sinhala). Avatharanaya is his debut novel and is the first book in a trilogy. 

Dhamma Dissanayake, a Senior Lecturer at Colombo University, and Deepthi Kumara Gunarathna, the Leader of the Samabima Party, will deliver keynote speeches at the Avatharanaya book launch.

SYNOPSIS 

A child is born with a dreadful prophecy. A vengeance is unleashed by an unholy matrimony. A man is dedicated towards a righteous kingdom. An enlightened one walks the streets, preaching a new world philosophy.

Faced with the cruel realities of life, the bitter loss of love, and the treacherous conspiracies among powerful families, will the rightful heir to the throne accept the challenge at the end of his numerous battles under the cold shadow of the great Himalayas?

Avatharanaya is the humanistic reimagining of a tragic legend that was misunderstood for centuries. 

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The Sri Lanka-China Friendship Association (SLCFA) launched the book “Sri Lanka Cheena Mithudama” (Sri Lanka-China Friendship) at a ceremonious event held recently at the Auditorium of the National Library and Documentation Services Board of Sri Lanka. 

The launch event was graced by prominent dignitaries, including the former Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, Karu Jayasuriya, who was the keynote speaker, and the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China in Sri Lanka, Qi Zhenhong who was the guest of honour.

President of the Sri Lanka-China Friendship Association, Attorney-at-Law Ananda Goonatilleke chaired the event, reflecting on the enduring relationship between Sri Lanka and China. 

The SLCFA, originally founded as the “Ceylon-China Friendship Union” on September 21, 1950, by the Ceylon Communist Party, stands as a pioneer in fostering people-to-people diplomatic ties between the two nations. The first president of the union was Madam Kusuma Gunawardena, mother of the current Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Dinesh Gunawardena.

In his welcome address, Goonatilleke introduced the book’s rich content, which encompasses a wide range of topics including historical ties, Buddhist connections, diplomatic relations, literature, economic and cultural cooperation, Chinese cuisine, China’s role and support in the war that defeated the LTTE, media, philatelic interests, photography, and more. He expressed gratitude to the authors who contributed invaluable articles and acknowledged the continuous support from the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Sri Lanka.

Karu Jayasuriya, in his keynote address, highlighted the significance of the Rice and Rubber Pact, emphasizing its role in solidifying the profound friendship between Sri Lanka and China. He commended the SLCFA for its seven-decade-long dedication to nurturing people-to-people relationships between the two countries.

The highlight of the event was the formal presentation of the first copies of “Sri Lanka Cheena Mithudama” by Goonatilleke to Karu Jayasuriya and Ambassador Qi Zhenhong. 

The event also saw the presence of notable figures such as Dr. G. Weerasinghe, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Sri Lanka; Aruna Goonatilleke, SLCFA Executive Vice President; Vice Presidents Thilak Botheju, Daya Lankapura and Premadara Dissanayake; SLCFA office bearers and various civil society activists and members of the public.

All attendees were presented with a complimentary copy of “Sri Lanka Cheena Mithudama,” marking the occasion as a memorable celebration of the enduring friendship between Sri Lanka and China. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) founder Basil Rajapaksa says he has not read the recently launched book by his brother Gotabaya Rajapaksa, which outlines the reasons for his ousting from Sri Lanka’s Presidency.

Speaking during a television talk show, Basil Rajapaksa said he had not received a copy of the book from his brother nor a digital copy and was not interested in purchasing a copy or reading the book as well.

Responding to queries on the book, Rajapaksa revealed he was aware of his brother collecting details for the book, adding that he had also heard from others certain details in the book, but had not read it yet. 

However, Basil Rajapaksa refused claims that he was furious over the content of the book, stating that they were merely rumours.

Questioned about his relationship with Gotabaya Rajapaksa and if there was any animosity between the two, Basil Rajapaksa said they were on talking terms for necessary matters. (NewsWire)

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Former Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa today launched his new book detailing incidents related to the protests to oust him from the Presidency in 2022.

In his book, titled ‘The Conspiracy’, Gotabaya Rajapaksa reveals the ordeal he went through during the anti-government protests, especially, the storming of the President’s House in Colombo, his evacuation, and the measures taken to address the economic crisis and restore normalcy in the country. 

Revealing details on the day protesters took over the President’s House in Colombo, Rajapaksa says; “On 8 July 2022, I instructed Defence Secretary Kamal Gunaratne to shift the Operations Room from the Defence Force Headquarters to President’s House. I took the precaution of getting all the defence chiefs to the President’s House because of the bad experience we had at Temple Trees on the night of 9 May 2022 where there was an inordinate and unforgivable delay in the induction of troops to evacuate the Prime Minister. At 8.00 am on the morning of 9 July 2022, the police curfew imposed in parts of the Western Province was lifted.

“At around 10.30 in the morning, the defence secretary and service chiefs told me that I should leave the premises immediately. It had not been even an hour since the mobs had started gathering in the vicinity of the President’s House. Earlier, officers in my security detail had told me to keep some things packed as a precaution and we had prepared two suitcases with some clothes, toiletries etc. We came downstairs with the baggage and just as we were getting into our vehicles. The crowds broke in through the front gate. Basil was also at the President’s house when this happened and he too got into our vehicle. We took the rear exit into the Navy Camp next door where the Navy Commander had made preparations for the evacuation,” he said. 

The former President also revealed that the Navy had kept two vessels on standby in the harbour for his evacuation and that they used one and the other vessel was sent in the opposite direction so that nobody would know in which they were travelling. 

“After leaving the Colombo Harbour, we went to Trincomalee and after spending the night at the Naval base, the next day I returned to Colombo to the Katunayake Air Force Base by helicopter and spent the second night there. The following night, I flew to the Maldives in an Air Force plane and reached Male at around 3.00 am on 12 July 2022. The Maldivian government had arranged for me to stay at an island resort about 200 km from Male and it was morning by the time we reached the hotel by boat. The plan was to fly to Singapore in a private plane but the Indian authorities had not allowed this private plane to fly to Male. So I gave instructions that tickets be obtained on a commercial flight to Singapore. And accordingly, I took a Saudi Airlines plane to Singapore. The Maldivian government had made all the arrangements necessary for me to travel from the hotel to the airport and to board the plane to Singapore. I was accompanied by my wife and two security officers. While in the Maldives, I appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe as the Acting President since I was out of the country.

“In Singapore, I was received at the airport and taken to a hotel where all arrangements had been made to secure the floor on which I would be staying. After reaching Singapore, I informed the Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena that I would step down from the Presidency in the coming few days respecting the request made of me by the political party leaders,” he said.

The former President says after reaching Singapore he had made up his mind to hand over the mantle of President to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe, who he thought was the only person capable of restoring law and order in the country at the time.

“I had by this time, made up my mind to hand over the mantle of President to Prime Minister capable of restoring law and order in the country. Ranil Wickremasinghe, because I saw him as the only person.

“However, If law and order were restored, the foreign exchange needed by the economy would come in automatically. The combined meeting of political party leaders and the Committee on Parliamentary Business held on 13 July 2022 had decided that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe also should resign from his position to defuse the prevailing situation by appeasing the mobs. PM Wickremasinghe however did not resign. He had stated earlier that he would remain in his position until a new government takes over. On 14 July 2022, I sent my letter of resignation to the Speaker of Parliament,” he said. 

Gotabaya Rajapaksa further revealed that after the mobs broke into the President’s House, a group of 16 SLPP parliamentarians wrote a letter to him requesting that he resign from the presidency. 

“The letter was signed by Dullas Alahapperuma, Prof. Channa Jayasumana. Dr. Nalaka Godahewa, Prof. Charitha Herath, Wasantha Yapa Bandara and Dilan Perera among others. In the meantime. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe had summoned an emergency meeting of leaders of political parties represented in Parliament. I informed the Prime Minister that I would respect any decision taken by the party leaders. My departure from the President’s House precipitated the resignation of Ministers Bandula Gunawardena, Mahinda Amaraweera and Dhammika Perera from their Cabinet portfolios.

Speaking on the anti-government protests, he further said that mobs took over the Presidential Secretariat, the Prime Minister’s Office and the official residence of the Prime Minister Temple Trees in rapid succession. 

“The private residence of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe was burnt to the ground by mobs. I was the President of Sri Lanka for something like two years and nine months. For two years and five months of this period, I lived in my private house. It was the demonstration in front of my private residence on the night of 31 March 2022 that forced me to take up residence at the Presidential Palace for greater security. When leaders try to effect change, the public has to support it or things will go in reverse. After the events of 2022, no leader will continue to live in their private residences after assuming office as President Prime Minister or Minister due to concerns about their neighbours’ safety if not their safety.

The former President also pointed out that, ironically, while the protest was supposed to be over shortages of essential items, shipments of many of these items were due to reach Colombo either on 9 July 2022 itself or in the days following.

“A ship carrying over 3,700 metric tonnes of LP gas which had been delayed finally reached Colombo on 9 July. A ship carrying 44,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer bought under the Indian credit also arrived in Colombo on 9 July. Yet another shipment of gas arrived on 10 July. On the morning of 9 July 2022, the Defence Secretary, Commanders of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, the IGP and the Director of SIS were all present in the Operations Room that had been established at the President’s House. The plan was to prevent the protestors from arriving in Colombo by blocking all the approach roads. But no such roadblocks had been established and the crowds converged on the President’s House virtually unopposed,” he revealed in his new book. (NewsWire)

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The leader of the National Freedom Front (NFF), MP Wimal Weerawansa has announced the launch of the English and Russian translations of his latest book, ‘9: Sangawuna Kathawa’.

Issuing a statement, the NFF said that the book will be launched in English as ‘Nine: The Hidden Story’, while in Russian as Скрытая история.

The book launch will be held tomorrow (Oct 13) at 3:00 p.m. at the Light House Auditorium of the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute in Colombo. 

The NFF further said that MP Weerawansa’s intention was to expose the Western-backed strategy behind the so-called Galle Face struggle that forced President Gotabaya Rajapaksa out of Office in May last year. 

Journalist Shamindra Ferdinando will deliver the keynote address in addition to the author’s speech. (NewsWire)

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