China’s Mid-Autumn Festival Cultural Performance Celebrates China–Sri Lanka Friendship in Colombo

Report by – Vinura Karunarathne

The spirit of cultural exchange, harmony and friendship between Sri Lanka and China took centre stage in Colombo as the China Cultural Center in Sri Lanka hosted a special Mid-Autumn Festival Cultural Performance at the New Arts Theatre of the University of Colombo on Thursday evening.

The cultural programme brought together guests from both Sri Lanka and China for an evening celebrating the traditions and artistic heritage of China, while highlighting the longstanding people-to-people ties between the two countries.

The programme featured a special performance by the Zhejiang Performing Arts Group of China, which presented a diverse selection of traditional and contemporary artistic performances, including songs and dances, instrumental music, magic and other cultural presentations showcasing the distinctive character of Jiangnan culture.

A Chinese Food Festival was also organised at the playground opposite the theatre, providing guests with an opportunity to experience aspects of Chinese culinary culture alongside the main cultural programme.

Chinese Ambassador highlights shared meaning of the Mid-Autumn Festival

Addressing the gathering, the Ambassador of China to Sri Lanka Mr. H.E. Wei Huaxiang said the celebration offered an opportunity to reflect on the cultural significance of the Mid-Autumn Festival and the shared values that connect people across borders.

The Ambassador described the Mid-Autumn Festival as one of the four major traditional festivals of the Chinese nation, alongside the Spring Festival, Qingming Festival and the Dragon Boat Festival.

According to the Ambassador, the festival embodies the Chinese cultural spirit of harmony and shared beauty, while representing aspirations for harvest, reunion, peace and sharing.

The full moon, which is central to the festival, carries particular significance for Chinese families, who traditionally come together to admire the moon and enjoy mooncakes while celebrating family bonds and reunion.

The Ambassador noted that as China’s exchanges with the international community continue to expand, traditional Chinese festivals are increasingly being understood and appreciated in different countries and regions.

Drawing a cultural connection with Sri Lanka, the Ambassador referred to the importance of Poya Day in Sri Lankan life and highlighted the symbolism of the same moon being shared by people in both countries.

Quoting an ancient Chinese poem, the Ambassador emphasised the idea that people separated by distance can nevertheless share the same moment beneath the moon.

The Ambassador said that this shared symbolism could serve as a bridge between the peoples of China and Sri Lanka, linking their aspirations for peace, harmony, happiness and family well-being.

Zhejiang artists bring Jiangnan culture to Colombo

One of the central highlights of the evening was the performance by the Zhejiang Performing Arts Group, which brought elements of China’s Jiangnan cultural heritage to the Sri Lankan audience.

The Ambassador described the programme as a reflection of China–Sri Lanka cultural exchange, noting that the artists from Zhejiang presented the poetry associated with Jiangnan’s water towns together with the elegance of Chinese cultural traditions.

Particular attention was drawn to the programme “Harmony of the Maritime Silk Road,” which incorporated classic melodies from both China and Sri Lanka.

The performance was presented as an artistic dialogue extending beyond geographical and linguistic boundaries. Through music and dance, the programme sought to connect elements of the cultural traditions of the two countries while conveying the themes of reunion and shared humanity associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival.

The Ambassador said such artistic exchanges demonstrate how cultural engagement can contribute to people-to-people connectivity and mutual understanding.

Sri Lankan side stresses importance of cultural diplomacy

The Guest of Honour, the Secretary to Prime Minister Mr Pradeep Saputhanthri also highlighted the wider significance of the event in strengthening cultural understanding between Sri Lanka and China.

In his address, he described it as an honour to participate in the Mid-Autumn Festival celebration and expressed appreciation to the China Cultural Center in Sri Lanka for organising the programme and sharing Chinese cultural traditions with the Sri Lankan community.

He said the Mid-Autumn Festival carries a profound human message centred on reunion, harmony, togetherness and gratitude, values which he described as universal and capable of transcending borders, languages and cultural differences.

According to the address, the symbolism of the full moon represents families and communities coming together and serves as a reminder that people from different cultural backgrounds share fundamental human values.

The Prime Minister’s Secretary further stressed that unity should not be understood as uniformity, but rather as the ability to respect differences while strengthening shared values.

He connected these principles with the importance of social harmony, describing mutual trust, respect for diversity and a common sense of purpose as important foundations for national progress and cultural development.

Sri Lanka’s cultural diversity highlighted

The Sri Lankan side also highlighted the country’s own long history of cultural interaction and exchange.

Sri Lanka, with its longstanding civilisation and diverse cultural traditions, has developed a social and cultural identity influenced by different forms of interaction throughout history.

The address emphasised that cultural diversity, mutual respect and social harmony remain important strengths for Sri Lanka’s national identity and future development.

In this context, the friendship between Sri Lanka and China was described as extending beyond government-to-government relations.

The two countries’ relationship also encompasses people-to-people connections, education, economic cooperation, tourism and cultural engagement, creating multiple avenues through which mutual understanding can develop.

The cultural performance was therefore presented not simply as an entertainment programme, but as part of the broader human dimension of bilateral relations.

Cultural diplomacy as a bridge between people

The Sri Lankan address placed particular emphasis on the role of cultural diplomacy in strengthening international relations.

Sharing music, dance, food, traditions and stories was described as more than simply presenting aspects of national culture. Such exchanges create opportunities for people to understand one another, with understanding contributing to respect and respect providing a foundation for greater trust and cooperation.

The Zhejiang Performing Arts Group’s presentation was highlighted as an example of this process, giving Sri Lankan audiences an opportunity to experience aspects of Jiangnan culture and China’s broader artistic heritage.

The Sri Lankan side also welcomed initiatives aimed at strengthening cultural understanding, social harmony and people-to-people friendship between the two countries.

Looking towards deeper cultural cooperation

The event also looked beyond the evening’s performances, with the Sri Lankan address calling for continued expansion of cultural cooperation between the two countries.

Future opportunities suggested included greater exchanges between Sri Lankan and Chinese artists, cultural programmes for young people, student and academic exchanges, and new partnerships between cultural institutions.

The address also highlighted the importance of creating opportunities for Sri Lanka to showcase its own cultural heritage to Chinese audiences.

Such cooperation could take the form of exhibitions, festivals, educational programmes, artistic exchanges and people-to-people initiatives, helping establish relationships that continue beyond individual events.

The message emphasised that international friendship is ultimately strengthened through connections between ordinary people.

Artists crossing borders, students learning about different cultures, cultural institutions establishing partnerships and individuals discovering traditions beyond their own were all described as contributors to stronger people-to-people relations.

The Mid-Autumn moon as a symbol of friendship

As the evening concluded, the shared symbolism of the Mid-Autumn moon provided a fitting theme for the cultural gathering.

The Chinese Ambassador expressed the hope that artistic dialogue between the two countries would continue to transcend geographical and linguistic boundaries, allowing people to better understand each other’s histories, traditions and emotions.

The Sri Lankan side similarly expressed hope that the spirit of cultural exchange demonstrated at the event would continue to develop in the years ahead.

The celebration therefore brought together two distinct cultural traditions under a common theme of harmony and human connection.

As guests gathered at the University of Colombo to experience Chinese music, dance, traditional arts and cuisine, the event served as another platform for cultural interaction between Sri Lanka and China.

The evening concluded with wishes for peace, happiness, prosperity and harmony for families and communities, alongside hopes for the continued development of Sri Lanka–China friendship through greater understanding, deeper cultural exchange and enduring people-to-people connection.