On May 23-25, 2023, Sri Lankan delegation headed by Secretary to the Ministry of Defence of Sri Lanka General Kamal Gunaratne (Retd) and including H.E. the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Russia Prof. Janitha A. Liyanage took part at the XI International Meeting of High-Ranking Officials responsible for Security Matters.

The Forum was held under the auspices of the Security Council of the Russian Federation. This high-level gathering of ministers, secretaries of security councils, aides to presidents and prime ministers, secretaries supervising national, regional and international security, heads of intelligence services and law enforcement agencies enabled a global exchange of ideas on urgent issues of security.
On the first day of the Conference Secretary Defence Gen. Kamal Gunaratne (Retd) and Ambassador H.E. Prof. Janitha A. Liyanage had a bilateral meeting with the Secretary of the Security Council of Russia Mr. Nikolay Patrushev on major developments in military technical cooperation and further strengthening of friendly relations between Sri Lanka and Russia. Deputy Director General of Rosoboronexport Mr. Scherbinin also took part in the discussion.
On 24 May, Secretary Defence Gen. Kamal Gunaratne (Retd) delivered speech at the Plenary session on major trends in the international situation, challenges and threats to global security. One of the other issues on the agenda was global food security.
On 25 May, Secretary Defence Gen. Kamal Gunaratne (Retd) also spoke at the round table discussion focused on international cooperation in combating drug trafficking.

Secretary Defence of Sri Lanka General Kamal Gunaratne (Retd), Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Russia Prof. Janitha A. Liyanage and Secretary of the Security Council of Russia Mr. Nikolay Patrushev

Photo courtesy of Security Council of the Russian Federation