Lanka’s new ambassador to Russia assumes duties

Prof. M.D. Lamawansa presenting the copy of his credentials to Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Russia Igor V. Morgulov

Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Russia, Prof. M.D. Lamawansa, having conveyed the greetings and best wishes of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to President Vladimir Putin and people of the Russian Federation, highlighted the existing friendly ties between the two countries that have been built over the decades based on mutual respect and without any strings attached

The Foreign Ministry issued the following statement on our new ambassador to Moscow assuming duties there: “On August 06, 2020, the Ambassador-Designate of Sri Lanka to Russia, Prof. M.D. Lamawansa presented the copy of his credentials to Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Russia Igor V. Morgulov and officially assumed duties as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka to the Russian Federation. The discussion with the Deputy Foreign Minister which followed handing over credential papers was productive.

“Upon the completion of the official visit to the Russian MFA Ambassador M.D. Lamawansa received at his official residence high officials of Russian Ministry of Defence, MFA, Federal Services for Military Technical Cooperation, Rosoboronexport, Federal Services for Fisheries, Russia-Sri Lanka Friendship Society, Sri-Lankan community, social, trade, media and academia circles.

“Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Lamawansa conveyed the greetings and best wishes of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to President Vladimir Putin and people of the Russian Federation. He highlighted that existing friendly ties between Russia and Sri Lanka have been built over the decades based on mutual respect and without any strings attached. The Ambassador spoke about the necessity to engage with Russia’s regional cities and emphasized the importance of strengthening of dialogue in the spheres of common interest for cooperation including Energy, Trade, Tea, Tourism, Education, Science, Technology, Culture and Agriculture. Ambassador Lamawansa assured that projects and programs initiated by his predecessors would continue with, perhaps some adjustment to suite the present time.

The Chief Guest, Deputy Director of second Department of Asia, Alexey Dedov in his speech stressed that “relations between the two countries have always been based on the principles of equality and trust, characterized by the absence of contradictions, an atmosphere of goodwill and mutual respect”.