Friday Mar 27, 2026
Friday Mar 27, 2026
Friday, 27 March 2026 04:52 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake (right) with visiting Russian Energy Deputy Minister Roman Marshavin
Russia has agreed to supply fuel to Sri Lanka and is ready to immediately provide refined petroleum products, following discussions between Sri Lankan authorities and a visiting Russian delegation, the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) said.
CPC Managing Director Mayura Neththikumarage yesterday said talks with the Russian delegation, led by Russian Energy Deputy Minister Roman Marshavin and Russian Ambassador L.S. Dzhagaryan, concluded positively.
During meetings with the CPC and the Energy Ministry, the Russian side confirmed that it is prepared to deliver fuel to Sri Lanka.
Neththikumarage said Sri Lanka aims to enter into a long-term agreement with Russia to ensure stable fuel supplies, with further discussions on the proposed arrangement scheduled to continue today.
Separately, the CPC said fuel stocks are sufficient to meet domestic requirements until May.
A vessel carrying 35,500 metric tons of diesel arrived in the country on Tuesday, with unloading operations currently underway.
Neththikumarage said two additional fuel shipments are expected to arrive within the month.
Marshavin yesterday evening met President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and said that Russia is prepared to support Sri Lanka face any challenge arising from the Middle East conflict.
According to a statement from the President’s Office, Marshavin said that support would be in any form—not only in the energy sector but also through technical, machinery, and other means.
The Deputy Minister has expressed his sincere appreciation for the warm reception he received in Sri Lanka and conveyed his confidence that the longstanding relations between Sri Lanka and Russia will be further strengthened during this visit.
Recalling the longstanding friendship between Sri Lanka and Russia, President Dissanayake noted that the technical and industrial assistance provided by the Soviet Union to Sri Lanka in the past was a great support for Sri Lanka’s economic and social development at that time.
The President further highlighted that, in recent years, Russia has remained among the leading countries sending the highest number of tourists to Sri Lanka. The President also expressed his appreciation for Russia’s support in providing educational opportunities to a large number of Sri Lankan students, as well as for the ongoing socio-cultural ties between the two countries and the assistance Russia extends to Sri Lanka in international affairs.
The President further expressed his confidence that the Russian Deputy Minister’s visit would contribute to the further strengthening of bilateral relations between the two countries, the statement said.
