The three-day visit to the North last week by the Chinese embassy delegation led by Ambassador Qi Zhenhong and its various engagements there raised some concerns in diplomatic circles in Colombo. These questions came as the Government is now engaged in finalising a USD 1.9 billion worth economic ‘package’ with India.
Days after the delegation returned to Colombo, the Chinese embassy said following a request from Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, it handed over a donation of eight lifesaving Kidney Dialysis Machines worth Rs. 20 million to needy hospitals in the Northern and Eastern provinces.
A Northern Province Health Ministry official said the embassy could have handed over those machines to the hospitals during their visit to the North or directly to the Health Ministry or even to the President or Prime Minister as they used to do in past but surprisingly it had to be coordinated through the Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa’s office.
“Or maybe they wanted to send a message?” he asked.