Russian ‘Order of Friendship’ Presented to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake received a symbolic presentation of the Russian State Award “Order of Friendship” from Dr. Saman Weerasinghe at the Presidential Secretariat on 2 April 2026. The award had originally been conferred on Dr. Weerasinghe by President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on 4 November last year.

The Order of Friendship, Russia’s highest civilian honour, recognizes Dr. Weerasinghe’s decades-long contributions to strengthening diplomatic, cultural, and economic relations between Sri Lanka and the Russian Federation.

During the ceremony, President Dissanayake conveyed his best wishes and underscored the importance of further deepening the long-standing friendship between the two nations. The event was also attended by Hon. Minister of Labour, Prof. Anil Jayantha Fernando, and Mr. Buddhapriya Ramanayake, CEO of the Russian House, Colombo.

Dr. Weerasinghe highlighted that timely and meaningful engagement between the countries would ensure the benefits of a strong Sri Lanka–Russia relationship reach the people when they need it most, reflecting the enduring bond and collaborative spirit shared by the two nations.