H. E. Prof. M. D. Lamawansa opened a new page of Sri Lanka's public communications in Russia by two interviews given to leading internet-based and television media.

On July 16, the first interview of a Sri Lankan Ambassador to Russia appeared on ROSSIYA-24 (Russia24) Federal TV Channel, in the 'Global Talk', new diplomatic series hosted by H. E. Dr. Alexandre Yakovenko, Rector of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Diplomatic Academy, former Deputy Foreign Minister and Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesman. This was the 8th edition of 'Global Talk', launched in 2020, which has given the floor to several Ambassadors, including from Asia Pacific region, such as India and Japan.

The ties of friendship and trust uniting Sri Lanka and Russia, which never loosened despite changes in the global and regional arena were the core of the ambassadors' dialogue, along with the growing need to diversify the economic component of the bilateral relations, finding new creative ways and joint responses to the unprecedented challenges resulting from the pandemic.

The leitmotiv of mutual friendship and the need to explore the new ways forward along with advancing the traditional directions of cooperation in political, defence and economic sphere, including tourism and infrastructural projects, were other points highlighted in the multi-faceted interview Ambassador Lamawansa gave to SPUTNIK Media on June 18, thus making his first presence in Russian news, spotlighted by several local and international newswires interacting with Sputnik.

The Embassy wishes to acknowledge the cooperation of all those who made these interviews possible, marking the start of Ambassador Prof. M. D. Lamawansa's active engagement with Russian stakeholders: the interviewers H. E. Dr. Alexandre Yakovenko and Mr. Andrey Savenkov, South Asia, regional & defence policy expert of Sputnik, for their excellent comprehensive questions, to the Chief Editors and teams of Sputnik and Russia24, to the Diplomatic Academy Rector's Office, and special thanks to Ms. Olga Khodinova, Producer of Russia 24 and member of Russian Foreign Ministry Media Pool for her initiative and comprehensive coordination.