DO NOT ILL-TREAT CHINESE NATIONALS

China has also allowed Sri Lanka to retrieve its students in Wuhan China has been a friend to Sri Lanka who could be relied on, since independence Since the outbreak of the coronavirus, western media has done its best to create a fear psychosis

Highlighting the fact that China has always been a good friend for the country and had never let it down in a time of need, the Sri Lanka - China Friendship Association (SLCFA) yesterday urged Sri Lankans to be considerate of Chinese nationals in the country.

In a statement it said, Sri Lankans are renowned for their hospitality, friendliness and gratitude; however in the recent years we have seen actions by a few, tarnish that image.

“Recent reports of mistreatment of Chinese nationals and discrimination in restaurants, public transport etc. only adds to this. We are losing friends and alienating people. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and our health authorities have taken all the necessary steps to prevent an outbreak of the coronavirus on the country and would thwart any threat posed by disease transmission,” SLCFA President Ananda Goonatilleke said. “As the first and the leading voluntary organization in Sri Lanka that has been working on improving people-to-people relationship between Sri Lanka and China, we urge fellow Sri Lankans to act with humanity and compassion and not to discriminate against the Chinese in Sri Lanka. China has been a friend to Sri Lanka who could be relied on, since independence. They were behind us unconditionally during the war against terrorism, by supporting us in the United Nations, giving us military aid and training when the West was pulling our legs,” he said.

He said since the outbreak of the coronavirus, western media has done its best to create a fear psychosis among the people albeit the fact that mortality rate of the virus hovers around 2%.

This was highlighted on Monday by Professor Malik Peiris, Dr. Jude Jayamaha at the Medical Research Institute, Infectious Diseases Specialists Ananda Wijewickrama,

Paba Palihawadana and Palith Karunapema. It’s ironic that Sri Lankans who have seen how the western media reported on recent events in the country, take their reporting on China the main enemy of the Western hegemony, without a pinch of salt,” he said.

Earlier this week Cheng Xueyuan, Ambassador of China to Sri Lanka that Chinese government imposed the strictest control and prevention measures and that the Chinese Embassy to Sri Lanka has advised people from Hubei province to suspend and delay their travels to Sri Lanka, while people from other provinces should quarantine themselves for at least 14 days after arriving in.

China has also allowed Sri Lanka to retrieve its students in Wuhan. It was only the fourth country that was allowed to do so.

“Given this context, it is unnecessary to panic because of misinformation generated by Western propaganda and sections of Sri Lankans that unthinkingly believe everything the Western media reports and discriminate Chinese nationals in Sri Lanka. The mortality of those who had contracted the virus is around 2%.