COLOMBO — The closing ceremony of "Chinese Culture Meets Students in Sri Lanka" and the award ceremony of the "China Through My Eyes" event were held in Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka.

Forty-eight Sri Lankan primary and secondary school students were awarded prizes on Nov 7 for essay writing, calligraphy, paper cutting and painting competitions.

K.D.S. Ruwanchandra, secretary of the Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation, says at the closing ceremony that the friendship between Sri Lanka and China is long-standing and that the event provided opportunities for Sri Lankan students to understand China and Chinese culture, which is conducive to promoting cultural exchange and mutual understanding between the two countries.

Ji Lili, counselor of the Chinese embassy in Sri Lanka, says both countries have long histories and splendid cultures, and the friendship between the two countries has grown stronger in recent years through expanding and deepening exchanges and collaborations in various fields.

"I hope all the students who participated in the cultural events will continue to study hard and make contributions to the friendly exchanges between our two nations," says Ji.

Indrananda Abeysekera, president of the Association for Sri Lanka-China Social and Cultural Cooperation, says the activity is the largest among all the events the association has organized, with the largest number of participating students and schools.

"It is not just our elders who can dedicate themselves to strengthening Sri Lanka-China cultural relations; our student generation also has the same responsibility," he says.

"China is one of the biggest countries in the world, with a variety of arts and cultures," says student Imashi Kawya Dasanayaka. "My dream is to study and travel in China. I'm one step closer to my dream."

The series of activities began in May at 11 Sri Lankan primary and secondary schools, showcasing traditional Chinese culture, such as calligraphy, paper-cutting, and martial arts, and featuring photo exhibitions on Chinese culture and Chinese book donations.