Sri Lankan students support China's virus fight with art works

"My drawing is to show that at this time of need, Sri Lankans are with their Chinese friends to support them," said Shalani Upekshani, a girl whose painting depicts doctors in China helping a patient infected with COVID-19 on one side, while on the other side a Sri Lankan holds hands with the patient.

The 16-year-old is among 43 representatives from about 2,000 students in Devi Balika Vidyalaya, a girls' school in the capital city of Colombo, who jointly wrote to Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, and attached their art works to show support for China's battle against COVID-19.

"Mindful of the severe nature of the infection and its impact on people's lives and the country's economy, we want to express our good wishes and that we are with you and your fellow citizens," the students wrote in the letter.

"Our students send their love to the students in China through art, as the Chinese students have supported us in the Manjari exhibition," said Indika Samarajeewa, an art teacher at the public school.

The school received a lot of paintings from students in China to hold an international art exhibition every two years, said Samarajeewa, adding that it has received several paintings from the Chinese city of Wuhan, where the disease first broke out, for this year's exhibition named "Manjari," or "Collection," which will be held in May.