In the framework of collaboration with the Chuvash State Pedagogical University named after I. Ya. Yakovlev (ChGPU) the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Russia organized a visit of the University delegation to Sri Lanka 17 – 23 September 2023.

The visit took place as part of the scientific project "Model of organizational, methodological and personnel support for educational activities in Russian language in the education system of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka" developed by Ms. Svetlana Ilina, Vice Rector for Academic Affairs of the ChGPU and Prof. Elena Khrisanova, Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences of the University.
In the course of the visit, the delegation visited a number of Universities and Schools, including the Gampaha Wickramarachchi University of Indigenous Medicine, the Helena Wijayawardhana Balika Vidyalaya, the Mahinda Rajapaksha College and the Vavuniya University.
Professor Ranjana Wickrema Seneviratne, Vice-Chancellor of the Gampaha Wickramarachchi University of Indigenous Medicine (GWUIM), warmly welcomed the delegation, and via the video conference with participation of Prof. Janitha A. Liyanage, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Russian Federation, and Dr. Igor Vladimirovich Kozhanov, Rector of ChGPU, the sides discussed the development of Russian-language education in Sri Lanka. The delegation presented the certificates to the graduates of the first Russian language course held by the Center for the Study of Russian Language and Culture on the platform of GWUIM and discussed with the Administration of the University the framework for further cooperation between the two sides, issues of expanding opportunities for online teaching of the Russian language and academic mobility of students and teachers, problems of training Sri Lankan teachers to teach the Russian language.
The delegation also visited the Helena Wijayawardhana Balika School, where it met with Madame Buddhika Gunathilaka, Principal, the Administration and the pupils of the School. More than 650 pupils of the School study Russian as their main foreign language and the Principal expressed her interest in cooperation with the Russian university, noting that the Chuvash State Pedagogical University is the school's first foreign partner. As a result of the meeting an Agreement on Cooperation in the Educational, Scientific and Cultural Spheres was signed.
The delegation's stay continued with a visit to the Mahinda Rajapaksha College, where it was greeted by Mr. G. D. Sarath Bandu Gunasekara, Principal of one of the biggest Schools in Sri Lanka. The sides discussed potential collaboration, including introduction of the Russian language to the programme of the school and joint methodological research.
The delegates also made a visit to the University of Vavuniya, in which ChGPU also opened its Center for the Study of Russian Language and Culture, which is expected to start an online Russian course in October this year. Prof. T. Mangaleswaran, Vice Chancellor of the University, and his Administration gave a tour around the University building to the delegation and the sides outlined the further steps, which will take place in the framework of bilateral collaboration.