Amy Yang, also known as "srilanka - nanggii”, is the Chinese person who has written the most about Sri Lanka.
She moved to Sri Lanka in 2010 and currently resides in Colombo with her family.
As a journalist, book author, and blogger, she is the author of 7 books and a columnist, and has interviewed significant figures, from presidents to artists. Among her published works are National Geographic of China: Travel Guide to Sri Lanka, Incredible India, and the translated The Brave Journey: Climbing the Seven Summits.
with Dr. Rodrigo
As the Two Sessions are being held in China, the entire country is immersed in the enthusiastic discussions about national development plans. At this special moment of looking ahead to the future, the international exchanges and cooperation along the Belt and Road are also attracting much attention. In the field of educational exchanges between Sri Lanka and China, Dr. Bhagya Rodrigo and her team have achieved remarkable feats.
She was the first self – paid Sri Lankan undergraduate medical student at Tianjin Medical University and is also the director and chairperson of the China Lanka Education. The Two Sessions focus on the future development direction of China and also bring new opportunities for international exchanges and cooperation. Against this backdrop, we were honored to conduct an in – depth interview with Dr. Rodrigo.
Could you please share your initial experience of studying in China and what motivated you to build a bridge of educational exchanges between Sri Lanka and China?
Dr. Rodrigo: When I first set foot on Chinese soil, everything here left a very deep impression on me. China’s rapid development is amazing, with a continuous stream of scientific and technological achievements, and the urban construction is changing with each passing day. At the same time, China’s rich cultural heritage and the hospitality of its people fascinated me deeply. During my studies at Tianjin Medical University, I personally experienced China’s world – class medical education system. The advanced teaching facilities and cutting – edge medical concepts have benefited me a great deal.
Sri Lanka and China have always maintained a deep friendship. At that time, I thought it would be great if more Sri Lankan students could experience Chinese education. So I founded China Lanka Education, hoping to help more Sri Lankan students, especially those in the medical field, start their study tours in China. So far, our institution has successfully enabled more than 2,500 Sri Lankan students to study in China.
What challenges did you encounter during the establishment and management of China Lanka Education, and how did you overcome them?
Dr. Rodrigo: There were indeed many difficulties at the beginning. The education systems of China and Sri Lanka are quite different. Therefore, the curriculum settings and teaching methods of Chinese universities require Sri Lankan students to have a relatively long adaptation period. Language and cultural barriers are also a major aspect – many Sri Lankan students had problems with basic daily communication when they first came to China. In addition, there is the financial pressure. For some student families, the cost of studying in China is a considerable burden.
Fortunately, China’s international influence has been continuously increasing. Against the background of growing international exchanges, more and more Chinese universities attach greater importance to international students and the quality of their student intake. We actively communicated with various universities and managed to obtain a lot of support and some scholarship places, which can help students relieve financial and other pressures. At the same time, we also provide special language training courses and cultural adaptation guidance for students to help them integrate into Chinese study and life more quickly. In this process, our institution has also gained more and more experience.
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What impacts do you think your institution has had on Sri Lankan students?
Dr. Rodrigo: The impacts are multi – faceted. Academically, students have access to world – class educational resources and advanced medical technologies at top Chinese universities, and their knowledge and professional skills have been greatly enhanced. For example, many medical students have participated in clinical practice projects in China and accumulated rich experience.
In terms of personal growth, the study – abroad experience has made them more confident and independent. They have learned to face various problems in life alone and have gained a deeper understanding of Chinese culture and society. This cross – cultural experience has broadened their horizons.
More importantly, after these students return to Sri Lanka after graduation, they have become the backbone of the medical field in Sri Lanka. They have applied the knowledge and technologies they learned in China to their actual work, making important contributions to improving the medical level in Sri Lanka. This has also further deepened the exchanges and cooperation between China and Sri Lanka in the medical field and enhanced the friendship between the two countries.
During the Two Sessions, all the topics are related to the future development direction of China. Looking ahead, what new plans and goals do you have for educational exchanges between Sri Lanka and China?
Dr. Rodrigo: The Two Sessions have drawn a grand blueprint for China’s development and also brought new opportunities for China Lanka Education. Our goal is to further expand the scale and enhance the influence. Next, we plan to establish cooperative relationships with more Chinese universities and strive for more support, so that more Sri Lankan students can come to China to study more easily.
In addition to medicine, we also want to provide students with more subject choices, such as popular fields like engineering, business, and technology. Moreover, we hope to build a strong alumni network to connect past and present students, facilitating their communication and cooperation and promoting their career development.
At the same time, we also look forward to attracting more Chinese students to study in Sri Lanka to achieve real two – way educational exchanges. The friendly relations between China and Sri Lanka are constantly deepening, and I believe that more and more students will be willing to participate in such two – way exchanges in the future.
As the Two Sessions inject new impetus into China’s development, what advice do you have for future Sri Lankan students?
Dr. Rodrigo: I would like to say to the students, be brave in pursuing your dreams! China will continue to develop steadily, and the exchanges and cooperation with Sri Lanka are becoming closer and closer. This is a rare opportunity.
The process of studying abroad may encounter difficulties, but as long as you persevere, you will surely achieve success. During your studies in China, cherish the opportunity, study hard, and actively participate in cultural exchange activities. Be the envoys of friendship between China and Sri Lanka and contribute to the friendly cooperation between the two countries.