Colombo, 1 August 2022 (TDI): The Russian Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Yury Materiy called on the newly appointed Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka, Ali Sabry at the Foreign Ministry in Colombo.
Russian Ambassador calls on new Foreign Minister
Full Media Release at: https://t.co/ZJD5DqBCzk#DiplomacyLk #lka pic.twitter.com/x2GMeRoTYM
— MFA SL 🇱🇰 (@MFA_SriLanka) July 31, 2022
The Russian Ambassador congratulated Foreign Minister Sabry on his appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka.
Also, Ambassador Materiy handed over a message of felicitation addressed to Sri Lanka’s new Foreign Minister from the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov.
The Russian Ambassador informed the Foreign Minister of significant aspects of the traditionally strong partnership between the two countries.
In the meeting, the Foreign Minister expressed his deep appreciation for Russia’s support towards Sri Lanka in bilateral and multilateral forums.
The Foreign Minister further expressed his confidence in further consolidation of cooperation.
He also said that bilateral relations should be enhanced in every field. Particularly with attention to enhancing business ties, tourism, and connectivity.
Other important dignitaries present at the meeting included the Deputy Head of the Russian Embassy and senior officials of Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry.
Russia-Sri Lanka Relations
Diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and Russian Federation (formerly the Soviet Union) were established in 1956.
The friendly ties between the two countries have been witnessed with the invitation for a state visit extended to former President Maithripala Sirisena. At the time, Sirisena was the first Sri Lankan President to be invited on a state visit to Russia.
Sirisena made the visit while marking a historic moment in diplomatic relations between the two nations.
In line with the joint Sri Lanka-Soviet Communiqué (1963), both nations tied up for the “usefulness of the expansion of cultural relations, the exchange of scientific information, the strengthening of the contacts between specialists, working in the field of science, culture, education and health”.
Furthermore, Russia has become part of Sri Lanka’s major tea buyers. In addition, Russia is a strategic import trade partner for the country.
Notably, these economic trends have increased the national economic growth rate. Likewise, became a reason to promote the national export industry abroad.
The two governments signed a Memorandum of Understanding on military and technological-related issues in 2007.
Therefore, from 2008 the Russian Government provided short military training programs for the Sri Lankan defense forces.
Most importantly, Russian military assistance to Sri Lanka has paved the way for considerable Sri Lanka-Russia defense cooperation.
