The Chinese Spring Festival Celebration marking the Chinese New Year was successfully held on 9th February 2026 at Shangri-La Colombo, bringing together distinguished guests from Sri Lanka and China to celebrate one of the most important traditional festivals in Chinese culture. This year’s celebration welcomed the Year of the Horse according to the Chinese zodiac. The event was hosted by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Sri Lanka and attended by diplomats, government officials, scholars, business leaders, and members of the Chinese community.
The reception was graced by the Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Mr. Qi Zhenhong, along with several Sri Lankan ministers, and representatives from academic and cultural institutions. The gathering served as an important platform to strengthen the longstanding friendship and cooperation between China and Sri Lanka while celebrating the rich traditions of the Chinese Spring Festival.
During the event, Ambassador Qi Zhenhong extended warm New Year greetings to all attendees and highlighted the continuous development of China–Sri Lanka relations in areas such as cultural exchange, education, trade, and tourism. He also emphasized the importance of mutual understanding and people-to-people connections in further deepening bilateral cooperation.
The reception featured a vibrant cultural program showcasing traditional Chinese performances. Guests enjoyed various artistic presentations including Chinese music, dance, martial arts demonstrations, and the famous Sichuan Opera face-changing performance. These performances provided the audience with an opportunity to experience the charm and diversity of Chinese culture.
Another exciting highlight of the evening was the lucky draw organized for the guests. Several rounds of drawing lots were conducted during the event, allowing many attendees the opportunity to win gifts and souvenirs. The special and final prize of the evening was awarded to Ms. Buddhima Patali from the Confucius Institute at the University of Kelaniya, and her achievement brought pride to the Confucius Institute and added a joyful moment to the celebration.
The celebration of the Spring Festival in Sri Lanka reflects the growing cultural ties between the two countries and promotes greater appreciation of Chinese traditions among the Sri Lankan public. Such events continue to play an important role in strengthening cultural exchange and friendship between China and Sri Lanka.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |