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by Aditha Dissanayake

Russians are always said to carry three items in their bags - salt, soap and tea. Going by tea market statistics, the chances are, the tea in their bags is from Sri Lanka.

Now, the Russian Centre in Colombo wishes Russians, to not simply sit at home sipping Sri Lankan tea, but to come and visit the country it grows on. "Sri Lanka has great potential as a tourist destination" says Director of Jetwing, Moscow, Natalia Chernakova. "And Russians are good tourists. They spend a lot of money".

According to sources at the Russian Centre, the security situation in the country had made an adverse impact on the Russian tourist industry.

Exaggerated information about the security situation had let most potential travellers to spend their holidays in neighbouring tourist islands.

Right now the most popular holiday destination among Russians, however, is Thailand, says Chernakova. But the airfare and hotel fares are the same in both countries.

So, there is no reason why Russians should not come to Sri Lanka." Minister of Tourism, Gamini Lokuge says since the ceasefire between the LTTE and the government, there has been a rise in the arrival of tourists to the country.

Russians head the list among them. According to Jenny Kandasamy who is the Public Relations Officer of the Russian Centre there have been over five hundred Russian tourists in the island during the last few weeks. The total number for last year has exceeded over a thousand.

Minister Lokuge says even though most tourists still come for the beautiful beaches, he wishes to promote the country's culture and nature as well.

He also says his Ministry would take steps to solve the major problem faced by Russian tourists - language.

"The Ministry also wishes to improve the cultural activities in and around Colombo to attract tourists", says the Minister. The doors of Sri Lanka remain open to the Russian traveller. But few Sri Lankans see Russians as foreigners.

The influence of Russian politics and culture is so strong on them, they see the travellers from the land of Lenin,Tolstoy and Gorky as visitors of their own kith and kin. Even a young man living in remote Nildandahinna will get on with a young Pavel from Russia.

For he would have grown up reading the translations of the great Russian authors. He would treat a Russian as a comrade - and for this you need no language.

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