He has made this remarks addressing the Sri Lankan community in Russia yesterday (24th March) at the Sri Lankan Embassy in Moscow.

Sri Lankan professionals working in various fields in Russia, students and business community were present at this occasion.

The President stated that state visit to Russia is an assurance of the clarity and the strength of the international policies followed by the current government.

“Some people complain that the government and I are aligned to the West. I refuse those complaints. Today all countries in world have become friendly states of Sri Lanka due to the non-aligned foreign policy of the government”, he said.

“This would be an era of the international cooperation of Sri Lanka has come forward by number of decades. There is no issue when this cooperation is with North, South or West. We are taking the required assistance to Sri Lanka through the friendship with all these countries”, the President said.

He extended thanks for the warm welcome offered by President Putin and expressed his confidence over the successful bilateral discussions.

The President recalled with gratitude the assistance given by Russia to Sri Lanka and stated that the benefits received as the result of bilateral relations between the two countries will be utilized in a more comprehensive manner to build a better future for the motherland.

Ministers Mangala Samaraweera, S. B. Navinna, Mahinda Samarasinghe, Susil Premajayantha, John Amaratunga, Dayasiri Jayasekara, Deputy Minister, Arundika Fernando, the staff of the embassy headed by Ambassador Dr. Saman Weerasinghe presented on this occasion.