President Maithripala Sirisena said his objective is a continuation of strong friendship with Russia for the coming century while opening a new page of sixty years long Russia-Sri Lanka bilateral relations.

He has made this remark while addressing the Sri Lankan community in Russia on Friday (March 24) at the Sri Lankan Embassy in Moscow.

Sri Lankan professionals working in various fields in Russia, students and business community also were present at this occasion.

The President further stated that state visit to Russia is an assurance of the clarity and the strength of the international policies followed by the current government.

“Some people complain that the government and I are aligned to the West. I refuse those complaints. Today all countries in world have become friendly states of Sri Lanka due to the non-aligned foreign policy of the government”, he said.

“This would be an era of the international cooperation of Sri Lanka has come forward by number of decades. There is no issue when this cooperation is with North, South or West. We are taking the required assistance to Sri Lanka through the friendship with all these countries”, the President said.

He extended thanks for the warm welcome offered by President Putin and expressed his confidence over the successful bilateral discussions.

The President recalled with gratitude the assistance given by Russia to Sri Lanka and stated that the benefits received as the result of bilateral relations between the two countries will be utilized in a more comprehensive manner to build a better future for the motherland.

President Sirisena also met with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Friday. 

Medvedev said that Russia will commit to provide more benefits to Sri Lankans in the field of bilateral economic relations between two countries. 

President Maithripala Sirisena’s visit to Russia is a beginning of a new chapter in bilateral relations between the two countries, he further said.