The Russian Government will continue to extend its support towards national reconciliation and other post-conflict activities in Sri Lanka as they supported Sri Lanka during the operation to defeat terrorism, said Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Sri Lanka Vladimir P. Mikhaylov yesterday (Nov 03).

He made these observations when four controlled light category machines including spares and metal detectors worth US$ 2.7m were donated by the Russian Federation to facilitate the ongoing humanitarian demining operations in the North and East at the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development. The equipment was received by Secretary Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

This donation was a friendly gesture of the Russian Government of its assistance to Sri Lanka on its national reconciliation, peace building process and other post-conflict endeavors, the Russian envoy added.

Sri Lanka and Russia have maintained traditional friendly ties for a long period. The friendship between the two countries was strengthened and had taken a new dimension in the recent past, he further said.