Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya sat down with CMG this week to discuss deepening collaboration with China, calling it a "cornerstone of regional stability and growth" in 2026. With bilateral trade hitting record highs this year, she highlighted green energy projects and student exchange programs as key priorities.
"China's advancements in solar tech are a game-changer for Sri Lanka's renewable goals," Amarasuriya said, referencing new joint ventures in wind farms and battery storage systems. She praised Beijing's role in funding infrastructure projects through the Belt and Road Initiative, while emphasizing cultural bridges: "When our students learn Mandarin or Chinese chefs master coconut sambal – that's how trust gets built."
The PM also addressed youth engagement, announcing plans to double scholarships for Sri Lankan STEM students in China by 2027. "Our tech-savvy generation will code the solutions to climate challenges," she remarked, sparking TikTok trends with her shoutout to #SilkRoadCoders.
With cross-border tourism recovering to pre-pandemic levels, Amarasuriya teased a new bilateral travel app launching this summer – because nothing says "shared future" like seamless visa approvals and curated foodie itineraries. 🍛📱
