Lankan students on scholarship to Russia

A group of Lankan students will follow a short-term educational programme in Russia.

The students, from the Mahinda Rajapaksa College, commenced their studies at the International School Interdom, named after E D Stasova, in Ivanovo City, Russia recently.

This initiative was coordinated by the Education Ministry of the Russian Federation, the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Russia and the Embassy of Russia in Sri Lanka, with the support of founder of the College Minister Dr Bandula Gunawardhana.

The seven students who were selected for the scholarships, will learn Russian language as well as history, traditions and culture of Russia, together with Russian and other foreign students for the next three months.

At the invitation of the Interdom, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Russian Federation Prof Janitha A Liyanage visited the school for New Year celebrations and met with its Director Olga Matvievskaya, Principal of Mahinda Rajapaksa College Sarath Bandu Gunasekara Dissanayakage, a teacher and a parent who accompanied the students, and the students participating in the programme.

The embassy delegation was given a briefing on the 90-year old history of Interdom. They also viewed a New Year Concert performed by students from Russia, Sri Lanka, Kyrgizstan, Tajikistan and Syria.

The delegation visited the classrooms, and Ambassador Liyanage urged the Lankan students to make the best use of this opportunity provided to them, and expressed hope that the Sri Lanka and Russia Governments would be able to make this programme a tradition.

The Ambassador also met the Deputy Chairman of the Government of Ivanovo region Yuliya Vasilyeva, and other representatives of Ivanovo Government bodies, as well as business community. The discussions focused on the progress made in the development of relations between Sri Lanka and Ivanovo region in the spheres of trade, investment, labour, education, etc.