H.E. Prof. M.D. Lamawansa, Ambassador of Sri Lanka in the Russian Federation together with Ms. Thavishya Mullegamgoda, First Secretary (Commercial) and Ms. Olessya Romanova, interpreter of Sri Lanka Embassy in Russia met the first Vice-President of the Sverdlovsk Region Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, Mr. Porodonov Alexander and few other representatives of the Union on 07th July 2021 at the premises of the Sverdlovsk Region Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs in Ekaterinburg, Russia.

Welcoming the Sri Lankan delegation, Mr. Porodonov Alexander briefly gave an overview of the Sverdlovsk Region Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs which is a sub-regional entity of the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of the Russian Federation, comprising 500 companies in the Sverdlovsk Region of Russia. 45-50% of their membership consists of industrialists and out of them 80% are major companies in Russia.
Ambassador Prof. M.D. Lamawansa mentioned about the development of Sri Lanka – Russian Federation relations of friendship both in bilateral and international arena. He further mentioned that Sri Lanka's first industrial complexes came, in the 1960s, with the assistance of Russian government's assistance in building steel, tyre, and flour milling factories. It was mentioned that during the years of bilateral relations, Russia, has become a popular destination for Sri Lankan students pursuing higher education in various fields and they are serving as experts in various fields in Sri Lanka contributing to the development of the nation and there has been progress in the field of military and technical cooperation between the two countries as well.
Sri Lankan delegation discussed extensively trade and investment opportunities in various sectors including apparel, rubber-based products, IT enabled services, tourism & hospitality sector, agriculture-based products & food processing, medical devices and pharmaceutical manufacturing, electronics & electrical industry, logistics, infrastructure development etc. available in Sri Lanka for industrialists and entrepreneurs based in the Sverdlovsk Region of Russia.
Both sides agreed to exchange information on sector-wise trade and investment opportunities available in both countries enabling to establish mutual business cooperation between companies in Sri Lanka and the Sverdlovsk region of Russia in future. The ways and means of establishing cooperation in the higher education sector within university level between the two countries were also discussed in detail during the meeting. Further, it was discussed the ways how the Sverdlovsk Region Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs could establish links with suitable business promotional organizations in Sri Lanka to expand business links between Sri Lanka and the Sverdlovsk Region of Russia in future.