On August 10, 2020 Prof. M.D. Lamawansa, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka to the Russian Federation visited the Moscow Clinical Centre for Infectious Deceases named after V.P. Demikhov in Voronovskoye, Moscow region in order to hand over 46 boxes of Ceylon tea as a token of appreciation from Sri Lanka to the medical staff combating COVID-19 and saving patients' lives.

The Moscow Clinical Centre for Infectious Deceases, Voronovskoye branch is a newly constructed hospital facility which had been built within 5 weeks on the total area of more than 40 hectares in April this year as a response to Covid. After the end of the pandemic, a modern infectious disease hospital will function here. The Center contains 800 patient beds, almost half of which is of intensive care.
The Ambassador Prof. M. D. Lamawansa, accompanied by Mr. Mohamed Anas, Counsellor, HOC, Ms. Chathurika Perera, Second Secretary (Commercial), Ms. Olesya Romanova, Personal Assistant to H. E. the Ambassador and Ms. Anastasia Kovalenko, Tea Promotion Assistant, had a meeting with Dr. Nikolay Karpun, Head of Voronovskoye branch of the Clinical Centre, Mr. Alexander Pestov, Deputy Head for technical support and construction, Ms. Angela Zabrodnaya, Chief Personnel Manager, Mr. Sergey Avdeykin, Chief anaesthetist and intensive care specialist.
Dr. Karpun noted the tight deadlines required for the construction of the Clinical hospital, purchasing proper medical equipment and training of the medical personnel brought together from 91 cities and regions of Russia so that the hospital could launch its work in an efficient manner.
During the meeting Dr. Karpun and the Ambassador Lamawansa discussed the new wave of COVID expected and the role of vaccination in the virus control and prevention. On behalf of the government and people of Sri Lanka Ambassador Prof. M.D. Lamawansa expressed his deepest respect and gratitude to all doctors and medical staff of the hospital for their tireless efforts in saving people's lives in the context of the world's pandemic. The Head of Sri Lankan Mission highly appreciated Russia being the first country in the world to produce a vaccine against new coronavirus.
Taking the Embassy's initiative endorsed by the Sri Lanka Tea Board, 12 leading Ceylon tea exporters to Russia contributed to this generous donation: 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')