A high-level delegation led by Ms. Yang Dongning, Vice President of the Export-Import Bank of China (China EXIM Bank) visited Sri Lanka on 2 July 2026 and held discussions with Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando, Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning, along with the treasury officials.

The meeting was conducted in a cordial and constructive atmosphere, reaffirming the longstanding friendship and development partnership between Sri Lanka and the People's Republic of China. The discussions focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation with EXIM Bank of China and advancing key development initiatives that would contribute to Sri Lanka's economic growth.

A key agenda item was the progress of the amended Financing Agreement for the Central Expressway Project (CEP-1) - Section I (Kadawatha-Meerigama), which is financed by the Export-Import Bank of China. Both parties reviewed the current status of the amendment process and reaffirmed their commitment to expediting the remaining procedures. The Government of Sri Lanka expressed its intention to complete the necessary formalities with a view to signing the amended Financing Agreement before the end of August 2026, subject to the completion of the respective internal procedures of both parties.

During the discussions, Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando outlined the Government's vision for achieving sustainable economic growth through the development of priority sectors, including tourism, value-added manufacturing integrated with global value chains, logistics, energy and IT. He also highlighted the Government's commitment to promoting technology driven industries, particularly the information technology sector, fostering innovation, and diversifying export markets to enhance the country's economic competitiveness.

The Deputy Minister further elaborated on the Government's ongoing efforts to strengthen the education sector, with particular emphasis on enhancing the professional knowledge and skills of young people through technical and vocational education, thereby contributing to human capital development. In response, the Chinese delegation expressed its willingness to strengthen cooperation between Chinese and Sri Lankan higher education institutions through capacity building initiatives, knowledge exchange, and academic collaboration. The discussions also covered the broader scope of bilateral economic and development cooperation, with both sides expressing their shared commitment to further strengthening the longstanding partnership between Sri Lanka and China.

The meeting concluded on a positive note, with both parties reaffirming their commitment to deepening the strategic development partnership between the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Government of the People's Republic of China. Both sides expressed confidence that continued collaboration would support Sri Lanka's sustainable economic development and further strengthen the enduring friendship between the two countries.