Longstanding cooperation and assistance received from Russia recalled

The Sri Lanka Minister for Foreign Affairs Rohitha Bogollagama, who accompanied the Sri Lanka President to Russia, said it was President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s first high-level visit to the country to take place after 36 years, the last being by Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike in 1974.

Mr. Bogollagama said Sri Lanka and Russia which always had a close and cordial relationship, have had their own pre-occupations during the interim period. While Russia went through a change in its political philosophy and structure, Sri Lanka had to grapple with a long-standing terrorist onslaught on the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. “Today, it is a matter of profound satisfaction for us in Sri Lanka to witness the dynamic growth of Russia under the strong and experienced governance provided by President Medvedev. This visit therefore marks an auspicious moment for both countries,” he said.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s three-day official visit to Russia from 6th to 9th February 2010 was significant in that it is the first visit abroad by the President following his decisive victory at the recently concluded presidential election was to the friendly nation of Russia, he said.

The award of Honorary Doctorate by the Peoples’ Friendship University of the Russian Federation at the 50th anniversary celebrations of the University, conferred on Rajapaksa was in recognition of his “outstanding contribution towards fostering world peace”. The President in accepting this prestigious award observed that he is doing so with “a deep sense of humility and happiness … because the accomplishments mentioned in the citation stem not from my individual effort, but from the efforts of the people of Sri Lanka”. The President also warmly felicitated the Peoples’ Friendship University on its 50th anniversary and recalled with gratitude its magnificent and generous contribution in enabling over the years tens of thousands of students from the developing world, including Sri Lanka, to obtain within its halls, a first class University education. He observed that the People’s Friendship University therefore symbolizes Russia’s longstanding commitment to work towards strong and enduring partnerships at the bilateral and international level, designed to collectively advance development and prosperity, the Foreign Minister has said in a statement.

President Rajapaksa during his visit met with his Russian counterpart, President Dmitry Medvedev with whom he had useful discussions on matters of mutual concern, including global and regional developments, he said. During the bilateral discussions, there was general agreement between the two leaders that peace and development in the 21st century world can best be attained through a mixture of multilateral and regional cooperation, based on the principles of friendship and respect for sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs.

He said President Rajapaksa made special reference to the strong support extended to Sri Lanka by Russia and some other friendly nations during the Government’s operation to defeat terrorism last year. He observed that Russia’s considerable global influence was very helpful in ensuring that the attempts by the terrorist forces to leverage world sentiment in their favour and escape, did not materialize.

Mr. Bogollagama said during the meeting with his Russian counterpart President Rajapaksa also recalled with appreciation the longstanding development cooperation and other assistance received from the Russian Federation. On the economic front, the President shared with President Medvedev a series of proposals for stepping up bilateral economic ties and increasing the volumes of investment flow between the two nations. The two leaders discussed, among other issues, cooperation in the field of energy (including petroleum exploration and petroleum resources development, and technology transfer in the area of renewable energy), and in the areas of aviation and tourism. President Rajapaksa reiterated Sri Lanka’s commitment to seeing in the near future a speedy, sustainable and sharp rise in two-way trade between the two countries, the Minister said.

The visit also saw the finalization of two Agreements. The first, an MOU for the promotion of mass communications, is aimed at augmenting people-to-people contact and cultural relations between the two countries. The other relates to a line of credit for 300 million US Dollars which will be used among others for the purchase of multi-purpose equipment including for defence.

Mr. Bogollagama also said the President conducted detailed discussions with the Rector of the People’s Friendship University Dr. Vladimir Filippov, who has earlier served as the Minister of Education of the Russian Federation. Dr. Filippov was keen that the tradition of mutually beneficial academic collaboration between the University and Sri Lanka should continue to be maintained at a strong level. Accordingly, it was agreed that a system of concessionary tuition fees be evolved with tailor-made courses appropriate to Sri Lanka’s human resource needs.

During the visit, the President also participated in a Sri Lanka Cultural Show organised by the Sri Lanka Embassy in Moscow in association with the Peoples’ Friendship University, which was attended by Russian political and business leaders as well as the Sri Lankan community. The President also declared open a photographic exhibition on Sri Lanka and conducted discussions with the expatriate Sri Lankan community in Russia.

The others who had accompanied the President on the visit included the Minister of Export Development and International Trade Hon. Prof. G.L Peiris; the Minister of Mass Media and Information Hon. Anura Priyadarshana Yapa; the Minister of Education Hon. A.D. Susil Premajayantha; the Minister of Power Hon. Mahindananda Aluthgamage; and Secretary to the President and Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

- Asian Tribune -