Dr Saman Weerasinghe awarded ‘Order of Honour of the Russian Federation’:

Russia has always been a true friend - President

Dr Saman Weerasinghe, Chairman of the Board of Directors of ‘Mos-Lanka Holdings’ Group of Companies and an Advisor to President Mahinda Rajapaksa was awarded the ‘Order of Honour of the Russian Federation’ on June 12, 2013 at a ceremony held in Colombo to mark the National Day of the Russian Federation.

Russian Ambassador in Sri Lanka Alexander Karchava accompanied Dr and Mrs Saman Weerasinghe and an entourage of persons including Ven Pallegama Hemaratana Thera Cosmonaut Vladimir Lyakhov, twice hero of the Soviet Union and President, Russia-Sri Lanka Friendship Association and his wife, Andrei M Nazarlcin, Counsellor of the Russian Embassy in Colombo and Director, Russian Centre and Buddapriya Ramanayake, Chief Executive Officer, Russian Centre in Colombo paid a courtesy call on President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Thursday to display the medal depicting the said Order of Honour so presented to Dr Saman Weerasinghe and appraise the President about the nature of the award.

Accordingly, the Russian Ambassador said the ‘Order of Honour of the Russian Federation’ is the highest honour awarded by the said Federation on the direction of its President to any foreign citizen who becomes subject to their admiration.

Thus, it is very fitting that Dr Saman Weerasinghe, a distinguished citizen of Sri Lanka is awarded this honour in recognition of the enormous services rendered by him in promoting, strengthening and developing friendly relations and mutual co-operation between our two counties during the past 30 years or so.

Vladimr Lyakhov said that as President of the Russia-Sri Lanka Friendship Society he is personally aware of the great contribution made by Dr Saman Weerasinghe who is also Honorary Deputy President of the Russia-Sri Lanka Friendship Association and General Secretary of the Sri Lanka-Russia Friendship Society in upbringing and fostering friendship and mutual co-operation between Sri Lanka and Russia in recent times.

He further said that he has had the fortune of visiting Sri Lanka on many occasions in the past and seen the vast changes and development that has taken place since the defeat of terrorism.

In reply, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said Russia has always been a true friend of Sri Lanka and has helped our country enormously during its struggle against terrorism and eventually stood firm in sheltering Sri Lanka at various international fora for which he is sincerely thankful to the Russian Federation.

President Rajapaksa also recollected the happy memories of his visits to Russia on two occasions in recent times. He added that he is aware of the services rendered by Dr Saman Weerasinghe in fostering friendly relations and mutual co-operation between the two countries. “It is purely in recognition of these services that he was appointed as one of his Advisors and be a link between Sri Lanka and Russia,” the President said.

“I am therefore happy to hear that Dr Saman Weerasinghe has been honoured by the Russian Federation and wish to thank the President of the Russian Federation on account of same too,” the President said. Attorney – at - Law Palitha Kumarasinghe and others were also present on the occasion.