On February 6, 2024, the Embassy of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka in the Russian Federation invited senior officials of the host country, members of the diplomatic corps, Sri Lankan community members, rectors of Russian universities, representatives of business, trade, and cultural institutions, and other honoured guests to celebrate the 76th anniversary of Sri Lankan independence at the GlavUpDK Cultural Centre in Moscow.

The event, which was attended by over 230 people, was held in a warm and friendly atmosphere. Words about friendship, trust and partnership between Sri Lanka and Russia were repeatedly heard from the speakers on stage that evening. The traditional oil lamp was lit by H. E. the Ambassador Prof. Janitha A. Liyanage, representatives of the Russian MFA, Russia-Sri Lanka Friendship Society, Russian Association of International Cooperation, members of the Sri Lankan business community, and Embassy staff.
Independence Day addresses of H.E. Ranil Wickremesinghe, President of Sri Lanka, and Hon. M.U.M. Ali Sabry P.C., Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, were read to the public. A short video, specifically recorded for the occasion by Hon. Dinesh Gunawardena, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, was also shown on the screen. Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Mr. Andrei Rudenko read a congratulatory address of Mr. Sergei Lavrov, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.
The cultural programme of the evening included performances by the RUDN students, who not only presented traditional dances Sewoma Ekwemu, Gajaga, and Kulu, but also amused the guests with beautiful Sri Lankan songs. A special highlight of the event was participation of the Sri Lankan school students, studying at the international school Interdom in Ivanovo. They recorded a special video, which was displayed for everybody, and presented a dance on the stage.
As part of the celebration, H. E. the Ambassador also donated several books by Maxim Gorky translated into Sinhala language to the Representative Office of the Government of the Nizhny Novgorod Region under the Government of the Russian Federation. The books will be transferred to the collection of Gorky's Apartment Museum in Nizhny Novgorod.
The official part of the evening was followed by a dinner for all the guests.