Students and a teacher carry gifts of stationery provided by the Chinese embassy to Sri Lanka, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sept. 2, 2020. Over 700 students from 19 schools in Sri Lankan capital city have received gifts of stationery and panda school bags from the Chinese embassy to Sri Lanka.(XINHUA)

Over 700 students from 19 schools in Sri Lankan capital city have received gifts of stationery and panda school bags from the Chinese embassy to Sri Lanka.

Students from different religious communities were joyful at the ceremony receiving the gifts on September 2.

Due to the Sri Lankan Government's health guidelines for the COVID-19 pandemic, only about 100 students and their teachers were allowed to gather at the auditorium of the Al Hidaya school, the venue of the gift-giving ceremony.

Local organizers of the event said the students chosen for receiving the gifts were grade-10 students.

Organizers said the stationery provided by the Chinese embassy bears love and affection from the Chinese people.

Hu Wei, Chargé d'affaires of the Chinese embassy to Sri Lanka, handed over the gifts to the students, called on them to work hard.

Videos related to the anti-epidemic cooperation between Sri Lanka and China and the joint construction of the "Belt and Road" projects in Sri Lanka were also shown at the ceremony.

Hu Wei said the COVID-19 had caused huge problems to countries around the world, while it also highlighted the traditional friendship between China and Sri Lanka.