The Sri Lankan students of the Mahinda Rajapaksa College, who will undergo a short-term educational programme in the International School Interdom named after E. D. Stasova for the next three months, commenced their studies in Ivanovo city, Russia.

This initiative was implemented in coordination of the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation, the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Russia and the Embassy of Russia in Sri Lanka, with the support from Hon. Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana, founder of the College. The seven students, who were selected for the scholarships, will be learning Russian language, history, traditions and culture of Russia together with Russian and other foreign students.
At the invitation of Interdom, on 27 December 2023 Prof. Janitha A. Liyanage, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Russian Federation, visited the School for the International New Year Celebrations, met with Ms. Olga Matvievskaya, Director of Interdom, Mr. Sarath Bandu Gunasekara Dissanayakage, Principal of Mahinda Rajapaksa College, a teacher and a parent, who accompany the students, and the children participating in the programme.
The Embassy delegation was introduced to the 90-year old history of Interdom, watched a New Year Concert prepared by the students from Russia, Sri Lanka, Kirgizstan, Tajikistan and Syria and visited the classrooms, in which students undergo daily studies.
In her speech to the audience, Prof. Janitha A. Liyanage called on the students to make best use of this unique opportunity provided to Sri Lankan students for the first time in history and expressed hope that Sri Lankan and Russian Governments would be able to make this first experience of the programme a tradition.
In the course of the visit to Ivanovo H. E. the Ambassador also participated in a meeting between Ms. Yuliya Vasilyeva, Deputy Chairman of the Government of Ivanovo region, and other representatives of Ivanovo Government bodies as well as business community. Considering the fact that it is the third trip of Prof. Janitha A. Liyanage to the region within the latest period, the meeting was of a working format and the sides discussed the progress made in development of relations between Sri Lanka and Ivanovo region in the spheres of trade, investment, labour, education, etc.