50 Chinese pairs marry in Lanka ceremony

A mass wedding ceremony for 50 Chinese couples took place in the SriLankan capital yesterday as part of the government’s agenda to promoteSri Lanka as an ideal wedding destination, IANS reports from colombo.The ceremony was attended by Megapolis and Western Development MinisterChampika Ranawaka, Tourism Minister John Amaratunga, Health MinisterRajitha Senaratne, Petroleum Minister Arjuna Ranatunga and China’sambassador Yi Xianliang.The event was organised by the Ministry of Megapolis and WesternDevelopment, the Ministry of Tourism and the Chinese embassy in SriLanka.Minister Ranawaka thanked the couples for choosing Sri Lanka as theirwedding destination and said both nations have shared strong andhistorical ties since ancient times.“Sri Lanka is very proud to be selected as the destination for thesecouples to celebrate the most important day of their lives,” he said.Ranawaka added that while this event would also promote Sri Lanka’sbeauty globally, the country itself is undergoing further developmentwith the construction of new hotels and other areas catering especiallyfor tourists.Amaratunga said that this event would help boost Sri Lanka’s tourism.“We hope through this event, many other couples, from other parts of theworld, will select Sri Lanka as their wedding destination,” he said.The brides and grooms were dressed in typical Sri Lankan wedding attire,traditional Chinese wedding outfits and gowns and tuxedos.After the traditional dances, the couples were accompanied intoheavily-decorated tents where each couple exchanged rings while a holythread was also tied on their fingers amidst religious chanting.Wang Yan, a bride who participated in the mass wedding, said that shehad learnt of the event through her friends and she was happy to selectSri Lanka as her wedding destination.