Chinese Leaders Send Condolence Messages on Death of Mrs. BandaranaikeChinese top leaders sent condolence messages Tuesday to the Sri Lankan government, expressing their deep condolences and sincere sympathy on the passing away of Mrs. Bandaranaike.Mrs. Bandaranaike died of a heart attack at the age of 84 in Colombo after casting her vote in the on-going Sri Lankan presidential election Tuesday. Chinese President Jiang Zemin spoke highly of late Mrs. Bandaranaike, saying that she "devoted her whole life to the national independence, unity and economic development of Sri Lanka, and made great contributions to the Sino-Sri Lankan friendly relations and cooperation." Li Peng, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, praised Mrs. Bandaranaike as "an outstanding and beloved leader of the older generation of Sri Lanka as well as an old friend well known to and respected by the Chinese people." In his message, Zhu Rongji, Premier of the State Council, said, the late Mrs. Bandaranaike "not only made great contributions to Sri Lanka's national independence and rejuvenation, but also laid a solid foundation for the great edifice of the China-Sri Lanka friendship." |
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