The international New Year's event of People's Diplomacy was organized by the Russian Association for International Cooperation on December 11, 2023. The celebration gathered diplomatic corps, Russian officials and prominent people from educational and cultural spheres.
It was remarkable that the solemn ceremony started with the lightning of the traditional Sri Lankan oil lamp.
Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation H.E. Mr. Sergey Lavrov sent his welcome address to the organizers and participants of the Evening event of peoples' diplomacy. Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasized the role of the Association in developing partnership and friendly ties with the general foreign public. He underlined that projects implemented under the auspices of Russian Association of International Cooperation contributed to the popularization of rich cultural and historical heritage of Russia.
H.E. the Ambassador Prof. Janitha A. Liyanage addressed the esteemed audience with the New Year's greetings. Prof. Janitha A. Liyanage spoke about the long-standing friendly relations with the Association and Russia – Sri Lanka Friendship Society and expressed her readiness to support and promote the peoples' diplomacy initiatives and endeavors further.
The official part of the programme was followed by a wonderful concert and a festival of cuisines of different countries. Sri Lanka was also represented by tasty national dishes.
Georgiy L. Muradov - Deputy Chairman of the Presidium of Russian Association of International Cooperation, Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Crimea - Permanent Representative of the Republic of Crimea to the President of the Russian Federation
Deputy Head of Rossotrudnichestvo Mr. Pavel Shevtsov
H.E. the Ambassador Prof. Janitha A. Liyanage, Secretary General of the Russian Association of International Cooperation Mr. Vladimir Polozkov, Deputy Chairman of the Presidium of RAIC, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Crimea to the President of the Russian Federation Georgiy L. Muradov , Deputy Head of Rossotrudnichestvo Mr. Pavel Shevtsov
