Warm welcome for President Sirisena in Moscow

President Maithripala Sirisena being welcomed at the Domodedovo International Airport in Moscow by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Igor Morgulov - Pic by Sudath Silva 

President Maithripala Sirisena received a warm welcome at the Domodedovo International Airport in Moscow, Russia yesterday, the President’s media unit said in a statement.

He was received by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Igor Morgulov, the Chief of Protocol and other senior Russian officials. Sri Lankan Ambassador Dr. Saman Weerasinghe and embassy staff and family members were also present at the airport, where a brief ceremony was held. The ceremonial welcome will be held at the Kremlin in Red Square tomorrow where Russian President Vladimir Putin will welcome Sirisena and a guard of honour will also be held.

This is the first official tour of a Sri Lankan leader to Russia in four decades after the state visit of Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike in 1974. The President was accompanied by his wife Jayanthi Sirisena and several ministers and officials.

During the forthcoming visit, the two countries will enter into several new agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) to expand bilateral cooperation in several fields such as energy, trade and commerce, agriculture, education, the Judiciary and defence.

The visit is expected to further strengthen friendship and cooperation and enhance bilateral trade. An agreement on Cooperation in Fisheries, a Protocol on Cooperation in Education and Culture and two Memorandums of Understanding on Cooperation in Education, Science and Technology and Culture will also be signed during the visit.

President Sirisena is scheduled to meet President Putin, Prime Minister Dimitri Medvedev and other leaders in the Kremlin in Red Square. He will also place a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow. Furthermore, he will attend a ceremony to mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and Russia.