Sri Lanka: China-Sri Lanka Dragon Boat Championship highlights cultural exchange.

Shotlist Colombo, Sri Lanka - June 13, 2026 1. Poster of 2026 China-Sri Lanka Friendship Cup Dragon Boat Championship 2. Various of banners, boats, attendees on beach 3. Team members stacking hands 4. People watching dragon boat race, taking photos 5. Various of dragon boat race in progress 6. SOUNDBITE (English) Kithmi Rajapakshe, athlete from Sabragamuwa University(starting with shot 5/ending with shot 7): "We actually won the Open Mix Challenge and we came second in the Women's Open Challenge and also we were able to secure the second place in the Friendship Men's Challenge as well. So tonight was an extravagant day for us and for sure we'll be representing our university in the next years." 7. Dragon boat race in progress 8. Various of visitors at food stalls, playing games 9. SOUNDBITE (Sinhala) Methara Wanigasinghe, student, University of Kelaniya(starting with shot 8): "We tasted a lot of Chinese food. We also interacted with many Chinese people and experienced the unique charm of Chinese culture. There was also the dragon boat race today, and this was our first time watching it. We just finished watching one race. It was really intense and very exciting." 10. Various of performances in progress Storyline The 2026 Dragon Boat Festival, alongside the China-Sri Lanka Friendship Cup Dragon Boat Championship, was held Saturday in Colombo, Sri Lanka's capital. The championship drew 19 teams, including four from China. Competitors ranged from Sri Lankan university athletes and military water sports specialists to enthusiasts representing multinational firms, Chinese-funded institutions, overseas Chinese groups, and local sports clubs. The competition featured men's, women's, youth, mixed, and friendship categories. "We actually won the Open Mix Challenge and we came second in the Women's Open Challenge and also we were able to secure the second place in the Friendship Men's Challenge as well. So tonight was an extravagant day for us and for sure we'll be representing our university in the next years," said Kithmi Rajapakshe, an athlete from Sabragamuwa University. In a speech at the event, Qi Zhenhong, Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, said that dragon boat racing is one of China's oldest and most important traditional festival traditions, symbolizing the spirit of unity and perseverance. Sunil Kumara Gamage, minister of Youth Affairs and Sports of Sri Lanka, emphasized that the competition was not only a sporting event but also a chance to promote cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. In addition to the exciting races, a Chinese food and cultural experience zone was set up at the venue and quickly became a crowd favorite. "We tasted a lot of Chinese food. We also interacted with many Chinese people and experienced the unique charm of Chinese culture. There was also the dragon boat race today, and this was our first time watching it. We just finished watching one race. It was really intense and very exciting," said Methara Wanigasinghe, a student from University of Kelaniya. The Dragon Boat Festival is a traditional Chinese holiday to commemorate the ancient Chinese poet Qu Yuan from the Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.). Celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, the festival falls on June 19 this year. The festival is marked by customs such as eating zongzi, wearing protective sachets and five-colored bracelets, and watching dragon boat races. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]