President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived at Vinukoa International Airport in Moscow on the 6th of February for three day official visit to Russian Federation.
During President Rajapaksa’s three day official visit, there will be a bilateral discussion with his counterpart President Dimithri Medvedev. He is also scheduled to hold talks with former President and the present Prime Minister of Russia Vladimir Putin, other government officials and the business community.
The delegation includes Madam Shiranthi Rajapaksa,Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama,Minsters Prof.G.L Peiris, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Susil Premajayantha, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, MP Wimal Weerawansa and the Secretary to the President Mr.Lalith Weeratunga. Sri Lankan Ambassador for the Russian Federation Mr Udayanga Weeratunga was present at the Moscow airport to welcome the President and his team.

People Friendship University of Russia honors Sri Lanka President with a doctorate

Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa was awarded a Honoris Causa Doctorate by the Peoples’ Friendship University (PFU), formally known as Patricia Lumumba University of Moscow in Russia on Saturday 6th February 2010 at 6.00pm.
The PFU is celebrating its Golden Jubilee and to mark the anniversary it has been decided to award the Honorary Doctorate to President Rajapaksa for his contribution for world peace and outstanding success against defeating terrorism. The award ceremony was held at the conference hall of the Great Kremlin Concert Hotel in Moscow.
Head of the University Rector Professor Vladimir M. Filippov presented the President with a diploma at the ceremony. President Rajapaksa addressed the audience following the conferment. The conference hall was fully packed with more than 6000 invitees from over 100 countries. Several world leaders, including Guyana President Bharrat Jagdeo also attended the ceremony.
The People’s Friendship University (PFU) was established by the former USSR government on 5th February 1960. On 22nd February 1961 it was named after Patricia Lumumba, a political and public figure, a poet and also the head of the first Peoples’ Democratic Government of Congo. The university was re-named as “Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia on 5th February 1992. Since 1995 PFU has awarded ‘Doctor Honoris Causa’ to distinguished persons for outstanding academic achievements in the fields of science and education and to world leaders in recognition of their contribution towards fostering world peace. The awardees include five (5) Presidents and two (2) Prime Ministers from around the globe.
The official letter informing of the awarding of this degree was handed over to President Rajapaksa by Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Sergey Lavrov, during their meeting when he visited Sri Lanka recently. President Mahinda Rajapaksa will meet the Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Monday. Also on the same day at the Russian Ministry of Finance, there will be a US$ 300 million credit line signing ceremony. President Rajapaksa is also scheduled to hold bilateral talks with former President and the present Prime Minister of Russia Vladimir Putin, other government officials and the business community.
The President’s entourage includes Madam Shiranthi Rajapaksa, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama,Minster of Export Development & International Trade Prof.G.L Peiris, Minister of Mass Media & Information, Enterprise Development & Investment Promotion Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Education Minister Susil Premajayantha, Minister of Power Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Leader of the National Freedom Front MP Wimal Weerawansa and the Secretary to the President Mr.Lalith Weeratunga.
Russian language speaking Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Moscow Udayanga Weeratunga will host a reception at the Ritz Carlton Hotel and the 62nd Independence Day celebrations during the President’s visit to Russia.

President participated to the 50 Anniversary celebration of Peoples Friendship University - 7th February 2010

President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Madam Shiranthi Rajapaksa participated at the Golden Jubilee Anniversary celebrations and a cultural show of the Peoples’ Friendship University, which was held at the university auditorium in Moscow yesterday evening, 7th February.
President Rajapaksa is seen here being welcomed at the ceremony by the students of the university and the Vice Chancellor Professor Vladimir M. Philipov. The Sri Lankan President was honoured once again at the cultural show by Prof. Philipov, by presenting a memento, a Russian style gold plated crown, decorated in precious stones. Later the President addressed the gathering and recalled the friendly ties between Sri Lanka and Russia.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the First Lady also participated in the opening ceremony of the “Rajatha Dekma” photo exhibition which was organised by the President’s official photographer, Mr Sudath Silva in the university premises. Rajatha Dekma displays the photographs of Sudath Silva’s quarter century journey in his profession as an official photographer for four successive presidents of Sri Lanka.

President Rajapaksa, who is presently on a tour of Russia, received the Honoris Causa Doctorate from the Peoples’ Friendship University formerly known as Patrice Lumumba University in Moscow on 6th February. He was conferred the Doctorate for his contribution to world peace in defeating terrorism and for his distinguished service to education and development. Among the distinguish guests there were many Sri Lankan students at the function.

Ministers Rohitha Bogollagama, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Susil Premjayantha. Prof. G.L Peiris, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Mr.Wimal Weerawansa MP, Secretary to the President Mr.Lalith Weeratunga, Sri Lanka Ambassador in Moscow Mr.Udayanga Weerathunga, Director Genaral of the Colombo Hospital Dr.Hector Weerasinghe and the co-ordinator to the President Mr Sajin Vas Gunawardena were present at the occasion.

President and the First Lady participated to the Opening of the "Rajatha Dekma" Exhibition in the University Premises (below).

The President was honoured  by the Rector Prof.Philipov presenting a Monument

The Cultural show

President Mahinda Rajapaksa met Mr.Dmitry Medvedev President of Russian Federation - 8th Feb 2010

President Mahinda Rajapaksa meeting with Mr.Dmitry Medvedev President of Russian Federation at Moscow on 8th.Foreign Minister Mr.Rohitha Bogollagama,Minister Prof.G.L. Piris,Presidents Secretary Mr.lalith Weeratunga, Ambassador Udayanga Weeratuhnga also in the meeting.

More Pictures AWAIT !!

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