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.
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