Cultural Show “Sri Lankan Night”
7th February 2010
H.E. the President arrived at the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia at 15.00 hrs as the Chief Guest of the “Sri Lankan Cultural Show” which was organized by the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia and the Embassy of Sri Lanka in the Russian Federation. The Cultural Show took place at the Main Hall of the Peoples’ Friendship University. H.E. the President and the First Lady were received by Rector Filippov and conducted to the Photo Exhibition “Rajatha Dekma” organized by the Embassy of Sri Lanka and Mr. Sudath Silva. 150 photos were exhibited. A meeting took place between H.E. the President and Rector Filippov after the opening of the Photo Exhibition. At the meeting it was discussed to increase the opportunities for Sri Lankan students for full-term courses in the areas of medicine, engineering and information technologies using 50% scheme system. It was also discussed to introduce programmes for postgraduate overseas training in English medium for the medical specialists who have completed post graduate degree in Sri Lanka and to introduce inter-institutional cooperation “through the exchange programme of teaching staff” with the purpose of obtaining new technologies and innovative methods of teaching and preparing PhD Candidates and Doctorate dissertations. H.E. the President was escorted to the Main Hall by Rector Flippov. The Cultural Show commenced with the welcome address by Rector Filippov and H.E. the President was presented with a memento by the Rector. H.E. the President presented an award to the Peoples’ Friendship University. Awards were presented to the following members of the Academic staff of the Peoples’ Friendship University in recognition of their contribution to education: Ms. Liudmila P. Karpenko, Mr. Viktor E. Radzinsky, Mr. Sergey N. Krivoshapko, Mr. Igor L. Tolmachev, Ms. Zoya I. Esina, Mr. Yuri N. Moseykin. After the presentation of awards H.E. the President addressed the audience. The speech of H.E. the President was simultaneously translated to Russian. The Cultural Show which followed showcased a variety of traditional Sri Lankan dances and performances by a group of Sri Lanka Air Force and the Sri Lankan students from a number of Russian universities. A traditional Russian dance was performed by the Russian students. Approximately 900 participated at this event including around 200 Sri Lankan students studying at Kursk, Tver and Gomel Universities in the Russian Federation. Foreign Minister, Hon. Rohitha Bogollagama, Minister of Education, Hon. Susil Premajayantha, Minister of International Trade, Hon. (Prof) G.L. Peiris, Minister of Mass Media and Information, Hon. Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, Minister of Power, Hon. Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Hon. Wimal Weerawansa, Member of Parliament, Mr. Sajin Vaas Gunawardena, Member of the Southern Provincial Council, Mr. Lalith Weeratunga, Secretary to the President, Mr. Romesh Jayasinghe, Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ms. Indrani Sugathadasa, Secretary, Ministry of Plantation Industries participated.
