The Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China Yi Xianliang is scheduled to deliver the 13th Sujata Jayawardena Memorial Oration on the topic “One Belt, One Road - Sri Lanka - China Relations.” on 15th February at the BMICH. 
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Lakshman Dissanayake speaking on oration said that the University of Colombo has formally recognized the Sujata Jayawardena Memorial Oration as one of its most prestigious and formal events. 
He went on to state that the reason for this is that the oration always focuses on a topic that is timely and of great significance to the socio-political as well as economic interest of Sri Lanka. Being a university, we try, through the Sujata Jayawardena Memorial Oration, to generate intellectual dialogue among academics as well as the general public, he went on to state. 
Rajeev Amarasuriya, President of the University of Colombo Alumni said that the topic for this year’s oration was selected as it is highly relevant at the present time. He went on to state that Sri Lanka – China relations has always been considered important and now with the One Belt, One Road Initiative, it has become even more critical with significant economic and cultural importance and impact to the region.   Sri Lanka formed an integral part the ancient Silk Route, as an entrepot of trade and exchanging commodities. There is historic significance as well. He went on to state that with this significant initiative Sri Lanka is well placed in the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road, which would stretch from China’s coast to Africa and Europe via the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean in one direction, and to the South Pacific in the other direction.
The twelve past orations have been delivered by Prof. Chandra Wickramasinghe, Dr. Jayantha Dhanapala, Robert O. Blake, Jr, Late Justice C.G. Weeramantry, Prof. Arjuna Aluwihare, LalithWeeratunga, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Mahinda Samarasinghe, Dr. P.B. Jayasundera, Prof. SudarshanSeneviratne, Prof. Carlo Fonseka and Prime Minister RanilWickremesinghe.
Those interested in attending this year’s Memorial Oration are requested to express their interest by email : [email protected] or call (011) 2501412 or 071 7-7289014, as seats are limited and will be by invitation.
Wijeya Newspapers are the Print Media Sponsors of this year’s Oration.