Calling on Sri Lankan businesses to leverage the resumption of direct flights to Moscow to diversify the
export basket, the Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Sri Lanka Alexey
Budanov affirmed that Sri Lankan businesses should focus on emerging opportunities for bilateral cooperation with Russia.
Speaking on the occasion of the 19th Annual General Meeting of the Sri Lanka-Russia Business Council of
the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (SLRBC), Budanov emphasized that Russia would continue to
support opportunities for trade between the two countries through the current challenging times.
The Keynote speaker, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tea Board, Niraj De Mel echoed Budanov’s
comments, highlighting the ‘ importance of enhancing the opportunities in tourism, coupled with tea
such as tea tourism, and also implementing a way to import fertilizer and wheat from Russia.
Acknowledging the need for a stronger focus on bilateral trade, Kolitha Wickramasinghe, who was
elected President of the SLRBC for 2022/23 said he would work ‘closely with the Export Development
Board, Board of Investment and other relevant ministries to promote more business between Russia
and Sri Lanka, in the areas of Tea, Travel, Tourism, etc.’
Buddhapriya Ramanayake, Managing Director, MOS Lanka Investments (Pvt) Ltd and Jude
Fernando, Director, Rhino Roofing Products Ltd will serve as the Vice Presidents of the SLRBC for
2022/23 while, Mr. Hiran Karunaratne, Director, Regency Teas (Pvt) Ltd was re-appointed as the
Treasure to the Council and Buddhika Liyanage, Director, Avian Technologies (Pvt) Ltd joined the
committee in his capacity as the Immediate Past President.