Colombo, Aug 17 (IANS): Nineteen couples from China and Sri Lanka were married at a mass wedding ceremony in the island nation, strengthening the country's position as an ideal wedding destination.

The couples, who are employees of China State Construction Engineering Corporation, walked down the isle on Thursday at a luxury hotel in Negombo city, reports Xinhua news agency.

Out of the 19, 12 couples were Chinese while seven were Sri Lankan.

The ceremony was themed, "We gathered for Belt and Road, We are married in Sri Lanka", as the couples met while being employed for projects under Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative in Sri Lanka.

Dressed in red Chinese traditional wedding garments, the couples were married in front of 300 guests with the Charge d'Affaires of the Chinese embassy in Sri Lanka, Pang Chunxue being the key witness.

"The Belt and Road Initiative brought the 19 wedding couples together as well as all of us. I firmly believe that the future of China, Sri Lanka cooperation will be as bright as the prospects of these newly-weds," said the Chinese diplomat.