Russia honours Dr. Saman Weerasinghe

Dr. Saman Weerasinghe, Secretary General, the Sri Lanka – Russia Friendship Society, Adviser to the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka and Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Russia 2015-2018, was awarded a Medal by the Ministry of Foreign affairs of Russian Federation for rendering many years of fruitful work on the development of traditionally friendly relations between Russia and Sri Lanka last week at the Moscow Government Building.

The Medal for International Cooperation and Coordination is awarded to citizens of the Russian Federation and foreign citizens for active joint work with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russian Federation to promote cooperation and services in the development of bilateral relations between the Russian Federation and foreign partners, assistance in strengthening peace and friendly relations between states.

Previously the award has been given to selected citizens from Slovenia, India, France, Bulgaria, etc. for their significant contribution to the preservation of peace, friendship and cooperation between peoples.

On the same day a similar award was also presented to Hero of the Russian Federation, Cosmonaut Valery Tokarev.

Director of the Department for Relations with the Subjects of the Federation, Parliament and Public Associations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Semyon Grigoriev, handed over the award to Dr. Weerasinghe

The event was attended by eminent Russian personalities and government figures, scientists and cultural figures, representatives of Russian and Foreign Media and Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Russian Federation, Prof. Janitha Abewickrema Liyanage.