A collection of articles by Prof. Samitha Hettige on China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and its lessons for conflict prevention and sustainable development, will be launched on January 1, 2023 to coincide with its 10th anniversary.
The BRI is the 21st century Silk Road with a partner network of 140 plus nations transacting with each other amounting to around 10 trillion USD. China has directed some 150 billion USD FDIs into development projects globally as part of the BRI. For the first time, Sri Lanka’s landmass expanded with the BRI (Port City and Hambantota).
The BRI was a life line even for EU countries to fight the Covid-19 and has so far raised around 700 million persons above the poverty line in all partner countries.
The book is titled “Every Step makes a Footprint” (Chinese proverb on lifelong learning). As a concept of Prof. Hettige, TV series Seda Mage Kathawa (The Silk Road story) was launched on Haritha TV to mark the event.
Mahesh Bandara provides executive direction while Dimuth Rajanayake directs it with guidance from Ven Dr. Kirinde Assaji of Hunupitiya, Gangaramaya.