Moscow, 19 February 2022 (TDI): Today is the 65th anniversary of the establishment of Russia-Sri Lanka bilateral diplomatic relations.
Bilateral relations between both states are based on amiability, mutual understanding, and friendship. In addition to that, both states prefer principles of goodwill and equality.
Establishment of Diplomatic relations
It is pertinent to note that diplomatic relations between both states were established in 1957. But, the link between the Soviet Union and Ceylon existed long before.
Along these lines, the first mention of Ceylon exists in the 15th Century’s memoirs of Russian merchant and traveler Afanasiy Nikitin. Russia opened a consulate in Colombo in the 19th century.
Eventually, In 1891, Emperor Nikolai II visited Ceylon. He planted a tree in Peradeniya Botanical Gardens. Meanwhile, the Soviet Union and Sri Lanka collaborated on trade, cultural, economic, scientific, and technical cooperation.
Henceforth, the first embassy of Russia opened in Ceylon in 1957. Ambassador of the USSR, Vladimir Yakovlev inaugurated the opening ceremony of the embassy.
The first bilateral agreement between USSR and Sri Lanka was based on the development of cultural cooperation which was concluded in 1958. Besides, USSR helped Ceylon to set up air and sea routes.
USSR also assisted Sri Lanka in establishing metallurgical, milling, house constructing plants, and tire-producing enterprises.
Visit of Russian Dignitaries
Russian dignitaries, writers, geographers, and artists visited Ceylon in the 18th and 19th centuries. In this context, Anton Chekhov, a story writer and playwright, Ivan Bunin, Poet, and Novelist, Vasiliy Vereshchagin, painter, were the notable Russians who came across Sri Lanka.
In the same vein, mutual visits of the dignitaries of both states were taken to further strengthen the ties. In 1961, Yury Gagarin visited Ceylon during his World Peace Tour.
Prime Ministerial Visits and Agreements
Similarly, the Prime Minister of Ceylon, Sirimavo Bandaranaike, visited USSR in 1963. She was the first Sri Lankan Prime Minister to visit USSR. Also, A.C.S. Hameed, Minister of Foreign Affairs, paid a working visit to the USSR and became the first Sri Lankan chief diplomat to the USSR in 1982.
Later on, the Russian Federation, the legal successor of the USSR, continued strengthening its bilateral relations with Ceylon. Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, paid a working visit to Colombo in 2009.
He held talks with Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama. On the other side, in 2010, Ceylon undertook its first Presidential visit to Russia under President Mahinda Rajapaksa. In 2011, Sri Lankan leaders took an active part in the International Economic Forum.
Presidential Visits and Agreements
Subsequently, the President of Sri Lanka, Maithripala Sirisena, visited Moscow and met Russian President, Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev in 2017.
In September 2013, Sergey Lavrov and G.L. Peiris signed a Joint Statement on the occasion of the 68th session of UNGA. Both sides committed to being not the first ones to place weapons in Outer Space.
As a result, Vladimir Putin and Maithripala Sirisena undertook a short meeting on the eve of the 5th summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia at Dushanbe in 2019.
During the conversation, both leaders emphasized measures to curb extremism for the safety of Asia. They also talked about interstate cooperation between both states in numerous fields.
Later, Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, undertook a working visit to Colombo and upheld talks with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa along with Minister Dinesh Gunawardena in 2020.
Still, in 2021, the relations between both states continued expanding. During the 46th session of the UN Human Rights Council, Russia upheld support for the Sri Lankan government and opposed the anti-Sri Lankan Resolution. Resultantly, Russia didn’t vote against Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka-Russia Parliamentary Friendship Association
In April 2022, Sri Lanka-Russia Parliamentary Friendship Association undertook a meeting in the Sri Lankan Parliament. On that occasion, speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena stated that the Russian Federation helped Sri Lanka establish its industrial base while helping Ceylon Tyre Corporation, Ceylon Steel Corporation, and Ceylon Sugar Corporation.
The speaker further elaborated that Russia is the major importer of Ceylon tea. Despite the pandemic situation, Sri Lanka imports increased by over 10 percent.
On the other hand, Sri Lanka imports various items from Russia. However, the very first session of the Parliamentary Friendship Association was held on October 9, 1998.
Political Consultations in Moscow
In October, Igor Morgulov, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, and Sri Lankan Foreign Secretary, Jayanath Colombage upheld political consultation in Moscow.
Then, the Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, Nikolai Patrushey, went to visit Colombo in November. There, he met President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Defense secretary Kamal Gunaratne.
Russian-Sri Lankan Intergovernmental Commission
In this regard, the role of the Russian-Sri Lankan Intergovernmental Commission for Trade, Scientific, Economic, and Technical Cooperation has effectively contributed to strengthening the business of both countries. Further, the commission’s next meeting is scheduled to be in Colombo for coming April.
Tourism and Education
The direct flights between Colombo and Russia resumed last year. This led to the increasing number of tourists visiting the island nation. Russian tourists have outnumbered other tourists in Sri Lanka since the start of 2022.
In this matter, thousands of Sri Lankan citizens have completed their higher education at various universities in the Russian Federation. This has enabled them to become high-rank officials, top specialists, and prominent businessmen in many crucial fields.
In December, Russian Federation transferred $5.5 million to World Food Program. This helped the Sri Lankan Government to finance the school feeding projects.
The Russian Centre of Science and Culture
Moreover, the Russian Centre of Science and Culture manages Russian language courses, chess training, and ballet classes. It also provides musical and art education in Colombo.
As far as the cultures of both states are concerned, Madam Anastasia Khokhlova commented on the cultures in an exclusive interview. She is the first Secretary of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Sri Lanka. Her remarks are as under;
“ Of course nowadays both cultures have developed greatly, but it could be said that both folk cultures, Russian and Sri Lankan have sprung from the original agricultural economics and way of life. This makes us close and avails people-to-people understanding at a very fundamental level.”
According to her, Russian culture is unique because of literature, folk dancing, classical music, philosophy, paintings, ballet, architecture, along with the Red Square, Saint Bassil’s cathedral, and State Heritage Museum.
In the context of Sri Lankan culture, she reiterated that the traditional aspects are witnessed via Kandyan and low country dancing, famous paintings of Sigiriya, and Dambulla temple along with religious ceremonies. The traditional and cultural aspects of both states are famous around the globe.
Sri Lanka-Russia Friendship Society
The friendship society also organizes events to commemorate significant events. For instance, society celebrates the independence day of Sri Lanka on February 5.
Lastly, Russian-Sri Lankan ties and their existing status manifest that trade, education, and tourism will continue to grow and intensify along with the people-to-people contacts.
MPhil Scholar at Centre of South Asian Studies, University of the Punjab, Lahore
