President Dissanayake to Visit China in January 2025

The visit comes shortly after Sri Lanka completed a long-delayed restructuring of its foreign debt, which included a significant portion owed to China, the island’s largest bilateral lender.

President Dissanayake, who took office in September with a commitment to fight corruption, has led austerity reforms to stabilize Sri Lanka’s economy, supported by an International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout. He told reporters, “I will be going to China mid next month,” without specifying an exact date.

This will be the President’s second overseas visit as head of state, following his December 16 trip to India, where he was warmly received by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Sri Lanka’s strategic position along the world’s busiest shipping route has fueled competition between regional powers India and China for influence in the Indian Ocean. New Delhi has expressed concern about Beijing’s growing presence in Sri Lanka, which India views as part of its sphere of influence.

This visit to China is expected to further discussions on economic recovery and strategic collaboration.