Sri Lanka Reduces Travel Fares To Celebrate Chinese Diplomatic Relations

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Sri Lanka, aviation and travel industries in both Sri Lanka and China have launched a series of activities to strengthen the communication among people of these two countries.

During the activity period, Chinese tourists can get special flight tickets and travel products to Sri Lanka worth up to 50% off normal rates. The activity term is from March 1 to June 30, 2007.

During this period, SriLankan Airlines will offer packages including roundtrip tickets and travel products for RMB3780 per person.

Sri Lanka and China exchanged diplomatic recognition in January 1950. In April 1952 both countries entered into the Rubber-Rice Agreement, whereby Sri Lanka supplied rubber to China under a barter arrangement, receiving rice from China in return. This agreement was entered into at a time when certain countries had imposed a ban on the supply of strategic materials, which included rubber, to China.

Following the Sri Lankan electoral victory of the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna led by the late Premier S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike in April 1956, the two countries established full diplomatic relations on 7th February 1957 and exchanged resident embassies in each other's capitals. Consequent to the establishment of diplomatic relations, both countries took a number of steps in the political, economic, trade and cultural fields to strengthen their bilateral relations.