World Trade Center in Colombo. Archival photoMOSCOW, Sep 17Since the time of Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Sirimavo Bandaranaike, Russia has been a good friend of this state, the country's authorities appreciate Russia's assistance to Sri Lanka, the Minister of Transport of Sri Lanka said in an interview with RIA Novosti Bandula Gunawardana.» Since the time of Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike, Sri Lanka has had good relations with Russia and good friendship with your country. Since then, Russia has always been our good friend. Regardless of whether times are good or bad, Russia has always been with us. And now, in these difficult times, Russia is with us, and we highly appreciate this significant contribution to helping our country from you. Thank you for this — both to the citizens of the country and to the Russian government,» Gunawardana said. Sirimavo Bandaranaike — Prime Minister of Sri Lanka in 1960-1965, 1970-1977, 1994-2000, the world's first female prime minister. During her first term as prime minister, in 1963, Bandaranaike visited the USSR — she became the first minister of Sri Lanka to visit the Soviet Union, then she met with the then head of the country, the first secretary of the CPSU Central Committee, Nikita Khrushchev.Read the full text of the interview Bandulas of Gunawardana >>
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