Sri Lanka's commitment to the longstanding bilateral relations with the Russian Federation has been proved once again under the stewardship of the newly appointed Ambassador Prof. M. D. Lamawansa, by donating Ceylon tea to the leading Russian hospitals where COVID-19 patients are treated.
In a symbolic presentation, on June 16, Ambassador Designate Prof. M. D. Lamawansa handed over a consignment of 40,800 Ceylon tea bags to Deputy Chief Physician Dr. Igor Tyurin of Moscow Clinical Hospital N° 40, publicly known as the Kommunarka Hospital, Russia's leading counter-epidemic institution which has been on the forefront of COVID-19 treatment from the first wave of this epidemic in Russia. Since then, the Kommunarka Hospital has received the total of over 3,000 patients in its brand new designated state-of-the art facility and continues to expand its capacities as the major counter-pandemic hub in Russia, thanks to the incessant support of the Russian Government and the City of Moscow.
As Sri Lanka's envoy to Russia and renowned medical professional H. E. Prof. Lamawansa chose to express his deep respect to those who are tirelessly fighting with the pandemic, gaining first-hand experience and readily offering it to other regions. On behalf of Chief Physician Dr. Denis Protsenko who is now on an important experience-sharing mission to the Republic of Dagestan, Deputy Chief Physician Dr. Igor Tyurin and his friendly staff thanked the Head of Sri Lanka's Mission in Russia and expressed their wish to invite Prof. Lamawansa to visit Hospital N° 40 again for a more detailed collegial exchange of experience, after the pandemic is repelled.
Taking the Embassy's initiative endorsed by the Sri Lanka Tea Board, 12 leading Ceylon tea exporters to Russia contributed to this generous donation. Ambassador Designate expressed his gratitude to the contributor companies: Basilur Tea Export (PVT.) LTD (Brand name 'BASILUR'); Unitrades (PVT.) LTD ('UNITEA'); Empire Teas (PVT.) Ltd ('EMPIRE TEAS', 'HYSON'); Venture Tea (PVT.) Ltd ('VENTURE TEAS'); Ceylon Fresh Teas (PVT.) Ltd ('ZYLANICA'); Regency Teas (PVT.) Ltd ('HYLEYS'); Imperial Tea Exports (PVT.) Ltd ('IMPERIAL'); Maltras International ('BATTLER'); MJF Teas (PVT.) Ltd ('DILMAH'); Akbar Brothers (PVT.) Ltd ('AKBAR BROTHERS'); Leoste Tea ('LEOSTE TEA'); Mabroc Teas (PVT.) Ltd (RUBIN TEA TRADE HOUSE – Saint Petersburg; Jafferjee Brothers ('JAF TEA')
Representatives of BASILUR and AKBAR BROTHERS joined the Ambassador at Clinical Hospital N° 40 personally at this important occasion. A further donation of Ceylon tea consisting pf 150,000 bags will be presented to another 4 leading Hospitals in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
