Message from H.E. Mr. Yury Materiy, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Sri Lanka

On the 12th of June we celebrate our country’s most important national holiday – Russia Day. In the Russian Federation it is a date that commemorates the beginning of a fundamental transformation. Russia has proved that is can adapt to changes, achieve great success and overcome difficulties.

This day the Russian people rejoice over strong patriotic sentiments and respect for the Fatherland, a country with a millennialong history, unique legacy, and culture, which has united a multitude of peoples, religions and languages.

Russians around the world have been going through numerous critical times and severe trials. But our people are meeting all challenges with dignity and honour.

12th of June is a symbol of free and futureoriented Russia, successful development of its economy, improvement of social security, consolidation of the friendship of the peoples of the Russian Federation, strengthening of its position on the international arena as well as of great victories and accomplishments of many generations of our predecessors.

The modern world is undergoing deep transformation. The start of the special military operation in Ukraine was a response to the blatant ignorance by the West of the core interests and security concerns of Russia, and the abandonment of its commitments that were reached within the framework of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Russia-NATO Council. It is also a response to the genocide perpetrated by the Kiev regime against civilians in Donbass, including citizens of the Russian Federation.

The special military operation is not aimed against civilians in Ukraine. The goal is to demilitarise and denazify Ukraine, as well as bring to trial those who perpetrated numerous bloody crimes.

The lion’s share of responsibility for the current crisis lies with the Western countries, which encouraged and supported Kiev’s russophobic policy and not only recognised, but orchestrated the anti- constitutional coup in 2014. Anything Russian, including language and culture, was being cancelled. For eight years Russia has been witnessing Kiev’s war crimes and the West’s indifference to the tragedy in Donbass.

Ukraine and the Ukrainian people have been turned into an instrument of Western policy to destabilize Russia. The Western countries rolled out a massive anti-Russia disinformation campaign. Under its guise they pumped Ukraine full of weaponry, sent their military advisers and held large- scale military exercises. The documents which were uncovered by the Russian Armed Forces confirm that the Western countries funded military biological activity in Ukrainian biological laboratories. Ukraine was being turned into a bridgehead, not just of individual Western states which directly threaten Russia. This was taking place against the backdrop of the destruction of the global security architecture and in the absence of any security guarantees for our country.

The West and its supporters have unleashed a campaign accusing Russia of provoking a global food crisis. At the same time the disruption of trade, logistics and financial chains and, consequently, a sharp rise in food prices throughout the world are a direct result of the irresponsible adoption of even more anti-Russia restrictions and threats of increased sanctions pressure on our country. These restrictions will increase the food security threat primarily in Africa, Latin America and Asia. Our country is a global leader in the supply of basic agricultural products, which have no or very few alternatives, such as grain, barley, sunflower seeds and feed crops, as well as mineral fertilisers, a major share of which are exported to the low-income countries that are facing food shortages. Russia is a responsible partner and is ready to fulfil all its contractual obligations to which it committed itself to. The Western politicians do not care about this, because nobody has ever called them to account.

The «centre of gravity» of the global growth is rapidly moving towards AsiaPacific region, including South Asia.

The Russian-Sri Lankan relations provide a good example of sincere friendship and mutual understanding that can exist between two countries. This year Russia and Sri Lanka are celebrating the 65th anniversary since the establishment of diplomatic relations which have always been based on the principles of equality, trust, non-interference, mutual respect and consideration of one another’s interests.

Our countries have similar approaches to important foreign policy issues. Sri Lanka supports Russia’s initiatives at the UN General Assembly, including resolutions on countering the glorification of Nazism, the prevention of an arms race in outer space, efforts to promote international information security, arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation. Russia has always backed Sri Lanka in all international fora, particularly in the United Nations Human Rights Council. Moscow supported and cosponsored the initiative of Colombo to declare March 1 as the World Seagrass Day.

Political dialogue continues to develop steadily between our countries, including at the highest level. We have launched productive interaction in the UN, its specialised agencies, and institutions, as well as other multilateral organisations, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, where Sri Lanka has a dialogue partner status.

Russia and Sri Lanka are expanding trade, economic, cultural, educational, humanitarian and tourism ties. Our country remains one of the major importers of Ceylon tea. Russia continues its active cooperation with Sri Lanka in the energy field. Sri Lanka has become one of the main destinations for Russian tourists. Since the start of 2022, Russia has been one of the leaders in tourist arrivals to the Island.

The Russian Government also took a decision to transfer $5.5 million to World Food Programme to finance the development of sustainable school feeding projects in Sri Lanka.

Russian higher education is rightfully top rated worldwide for its high quality standards. Thousands of Sri Lankan citizens have got higher education in Russia and USSR throughout the last six decades. Many of the graduates have reached significant heights in their corresponding professional areas, becoming high ranking officials, prominent businessmen and top level specialists in various fields.

Given the time-tested nature of the close Russian–Sri Lankan ties we hope that the relations between our countries will develop for the benefit of our peoples.