CTTA commends Lankan envoy in Russia role in lifting tea ban

Friday, 5 January 2018 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Colombo Tea Traders’ Association, the Apex Body of the country’s tea industry, in a statement has expressed its sincere appreciation and expresses its deep indebtedness to Dr. Saman Weerasinghe, the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Russian Federation, for the vital role he played and the indefatigable efforts he expended in the successful resolution of the serious crisis engendered by the suspension of imports of Ceylon Tea to the Russian Federation.

“The expeditious conclusions reached in the negotiations were due, in no small measure, to the excellent diplomatic relations His Excellency had developed and maintained between Sri Lanka and Russia since assuming duties as Ambassador two years ago, and the high esteem with which he is held in Russia, borne out by the fact that he is the only Sri Lankan national to be awarded the ‘Order of Honour of the Russian Federation’. This is the highest honour the Federation confers upon a foreign national, which, in his case, was in recognition of his contribution to developing and strengthening economic, cultural and humanitarian co-operation between Sri Lanka and Russia over a period of 30 years,” the CTTA statement added.