Representatives from several Sri Lankan political parties have joined a China-sponsored programme organised by the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC).
The delegation included representatives from the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), United National Party (UNP) and Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP).
CPC Vice Minister Sun Haiyan also attended the programme.
The delegation included Professor Prasanna from the SJB, former State Minister of Education and SLFP representative Surendra Raghavan, SJB MPs Chathura Galappaththi and B. Ariyawansa, and UNP representative Kavindu Dehiwala.
Youth leaders and SLPP members also joined the delegation.
What Was the Programme About?
The CPC’s Bureau for Southeast and South Asian Affairs invited the Sri Lankan representatives to the programme.
The invitation brought together representatives from the SLPP, SJB, UNP and SLFP.
The delegation visited Shanghai, Shaanxi and Fujian from September 6 to 15, 2026.
The programme focused on party building, social governance and rural development.
It also included visits and discussions on artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing and modern agriculture.
The CPC said the programme aimed to promote experience-sharing and mutual understanding between the participants.
Why Did Several Parties Take Part?
The visit brought together representatives from different political parties in Sri Lanka.
The CPC invitation described China-Sri Lanka friendship as a shared commitment of political parties in Sri Lanka.
That statement reflects the position set out in the Chinese invitation.
The programme therefore included representatives from parties with different political identities.
SLPP member Madushan Harindra described the visit as an opportunity to represent Sri Lanka and the SLPP on an international platform.
He also highlighted the chance to meet delegates from different parts of Sri Lanka’s political landscape.
The programme covered both political and development-related topics.
These included governance, rural development, artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing and modern agriculture.
Last modified: September 20, 2026
