By Celine Chen
China.org.cn staff reporter

China.org.cn was one of several Chinese media organizations to receive awards from the Sri Lanka government on February 26, 2009 in recognition of their special contribution to relations between China and Sri Lanka.

The Sri Lankan Ambassador, His Excellency Karunatilaka Amunugama (Center) and Mr. Indrananda Abeysekera (Right), president of the Association for Sri Lanka China Social and Cultural Cooperation present a plaque and a certificate signed by Hon. Ratnasiri Wickramanayake, the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka to Li Yafang (left), deputy editor-in-chief of China.org.cn.

The awards recognized the great service and dedication of the Chinese media in introducing the Reform and Opening-up Policy to Sri Lanka and in educating the people of Sri Lanka about China's achievements.

In a speech at the ceremony, His Excellency Karunatilaka Amunugama, ambassador of Sri Lanka in Beijing praised the Chinese media as a window between the people of Sri Lanka and the people of China. Introducing China to the Sri Lanka people and introducing Sri Lanka to the Chinese people is an important task, and the Sri Lanka government is very grateful for the contribution of Chinese media, said the ambassador.

Ambassador Amunugama presented China.org.cn with a plaque and a certificate signed by the Honorable Ratnasiri Wickramanayake, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka.

The certificate says, "This honorary certificate is conferred with great respect to China.org.cn in sincere appreciation of the great services rendered for educating the Sri Lanka community on the Reform and Opening policy in China and its achievements, as well as distributing information on developments in the fields of politics, culture, society, the economy, commerce and sport."

Xinhuanet, China Daily, China Today, Beijing Review and other Chinese media titles also received awards.

An official at the Sri Lanka Embassy also showed a report on the 30th anniversary of China Reform and Opening Policy by China.org.cn, which was translated into Sinhalese and printed in People's China, a magazine published by the embassy.