Honoris Causa for President :

Sri Lanka to get $ 300m Russian loan

by Shanika SRIYANANDA

The bilateral agreement for a US $ 300 million loan from Russia will be signed during President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s three-day visit to Moscow.

President Rajapaksa who is making his first official visit to Russia after his re-election for the second term, left for Russia yesterday and will hold discussions tomorrow with the Russian President Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev to strengthen the long-standing friendship between the two countries and is expected to sign bilateral agreements to boost the country’s economy.

President Rajapaksa’s visit is significant as he will be the first Head of State to visit Russia after many decades.

Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama who accompanies the President confirmed that the bilateral agreement for a US $ 300 million loan would be signed but declined to reveal the sectors for which the loan would be used.

Congratulating President Rajapaksa on his victory, the Russian President said that President Rajapaksa’s visit to Russia would strengthen the historical ties between two countries.

Russia has assisted the Government in its effort to combat LTTE terrorism and offered military assistance during the conflict.

President Rajapaksa told the 62nd Independence Day celebrations on February 4, that the country was entering a “golden era of international relations”.

“You all are aware that our foreign policy is independent and non-aligned. It is no secret that we have maintained close friendly relationships with our neighbours such as India, China, Japan and others. We also maintain a close affinity with Africa, the West, the Middle East and the European countries”, he said. He said that in his foreign policy, whatever he did was in the interest of the people. “Now the world should have a correct opinion about us. The Tiger terrorism that prevailed in other countries too has ended.

The state of war is now over. We are entering a new era of co-existence after finishing a period of some controversy.

I would like to say that we are now entering the golden era of international relations”, he said. Considering President Rajapaksa’s contribution to foster peace in the country and his struggle against terrorism, the People’s Friendship University of Russia (PFUR), which was earlier known as the Patrice Lumumba University awarded the honorary doctorate, Honoris Causa to President Rajapaksa, at its 50th anniversary yesterday. Only five Presidents and two Prime Ministers the world over have been awarded honorary doctorates by the University so far. The honorary doctorates are awarded for distinguished persons for outstanding academic achievements in the fields of science and education and to world leaders in recognition of their contribution towards fostering world peace.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei V. Lavrov who visited Sri Lanka on October 26, 2009 had extended an invitation on behalf of Russian President Medvedev to President Rajapaksa to participate in the 50th anniversary celebrations of the PFUR.

The President’s Secretary, Lalith Weeratunga, Education Minister Susil Premajayantha, Minister of Export Development and International Trade Prof. G.L. Peiris and Minister of Mass Media and Information Anura Priyadarshana Yapa are in Russia with President Rajapaksa.