Russia with Sri Lanka

Chaminda Perera

Russia will take every possible attempt to secure the support of UNHRC member countries to Sri Lanka in the event of negative resolution being moved against the country at its forthcoming sessions in Geneva even though Russia does not hold the membership of the council this year, Russian ambassador to Sri Lanka Alexander Karchava said.

He said Russia has close contacts with countries which have become members of the council this year. The envoy said the Russian permanent representative in Geneva was trying to secure the support of member countries to Sri Lanka in the event of negative resolution being presented in the council against Sri Lanka.

Russia, Cuba and China do not hold membership of the council this year, he said.

The Russian envoy was speaking at the 56th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Sri Lanka and Russia. The 25th issue of Russiyawa magazine was presented to the ambassador by its Editor and Disaster Management Centre Media Director Lal Sarath Kumara. He said External Affairs Minister Prof G L Peris briefed the diplomatic community on what the government has done in the field of reconstruction and reconciliation since the last UNHRC session and Russia was aware of what is being done by the government in these fields.

The envoy said he was trying to secure the support of members countries in UNHRC through Russian permanent representatives to Geneva.

"My mission is to secure support to your country in Geneva in March," he said.

Karchava said representatives of the State Atomic Energy Corporation in Russia had a successful discussion with Sri Lankan officials to seek their cooperation for the peaceful application of nuclear energy.

"The visit was extremely successful," he added.

Ambassador Karchava said they discussed this with Technology, Research and Atomic Energy Minister Patali Champaka Ranawaka.

He said Sri Lankan representatives who participated in the discussion showed a keen interest in acquiring the expertise from Russian nuclear scientists. The ambassador said that the two sides can reach an MoU over cooperation in the field of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes by the end of this year, if discussions continue smoothly.

The envoy spoke on the existing cooperation between the two countries in the field of military technology.

He said Russia has extended a US$ 300 million credit line for this. Karchava said the first set of helicopters will be delivered to Sri Lanka under this scheme. Sri Lanka Russia Friendship Society president and Environment and Renewable Energy Minister Susil Premajayantha, senior vice president Ven Dr Pallekande Ratanasara Thera, senior vice president Raja Collure, senior vice president Dr Pradeep Kariyawasam, treasurer Buddhapriya Ramanayake and General Secretary and Presidential Advisor Dr Saman Weerasinghe were also present. Russian Centre Director and Counsellor of the Embassy of the Russian Federation A M Nazarkin was also present.