Sri Lanka Ambassador Meets Business Russia to Boost Trade Ties

Ambassador of Sri Lanka, Shobini Gunasekera, accompanied by First Secretary (Commercial) Sanjeewa Bandara, met senior representatives of Business Russia (Delovaya Rossiya) at the organization’s Moscow headquarters. The delegation included Deputy Chairman Nonna Kagramanyan, Director for International Cooperation Anton Slinchenko, and Diana Kamaletdinova, Head of MENA/Southeast Asia Division.

Discussions focused on strengthening trade and commercial ties between Sri Lanka and Russia, particularly in non-resource sectors. The Ambassador highlighted Sri Lanka’s key exports, including tea, spices, agro products, and apparel, as well as emerging opportunities in ICT and tourism. She extended a formal invitation for Business Russia and its members to participate in Sri Lanka Expo 2026, scheduled for 18–21 June in Colombo, which was welcomed with interest.

The meeting also explored labour mobility cooperation, emphasizing Sri Lanka’s skilled and semi-skilled workforce and their experience in overseas employment. Possible avenues for transparent, mutually beneficial labour supply arrangements were discussed.

Both sides exchanged views on facilitating direct business-to-business engagement, trade missions, and sector-specific forums alongside the Inter-Governmental Commission. They also discussed establishing structured collaboration between Business Russia and Sri Lankan chambers and trade promotion bodies.

Business Russia represents over 7,000 entrepreneurs across all 85 regions of Russia and promotes private sector non-resource enterprises while maintaining engagement with authorities and international partners. The meeting concluded with mutual agreement to maintain close contact and organize follow-up interactions between the business communities of both countries.