Ceremony of appointment of Dr. Mohamad Chahine as Honorary Consul of Sri Lanka in Kursk.

On February 14, 2017 H. E. Dr. Saman Weerasinghe, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Russia, together with Mr. Dulmith Waruna, Second Secertary of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Russia, and Mr. Upul Priyantha, Third Secretary of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Russia, attended the ceremony of appointment of Dr. Mohamad Chahine as Honorary Consul of Sri Lanka in Kursk. The ceremony took place at the Kursk state medical university where more than 300 Sri Lankan students obtain their education and gathered more than 400 participants among whom were Sri Lankan, Russian students as well as students from other countries and University officials. The Russian side was represented by the Deputy Chairman of the Kursk Regional Duma Mr. Vladimir Ivanov, Rector of the Kursk state medical university Professor Victor Lazarenko, Chairman of the Committee on the development of external affairs of the Administration of the Kursk Region Mr. Victor Grebennikov, Chairman of the Committee on healthcare of the Kursk Region Ms. Olga Novikova, Head of the Higher Education Unit of the Committee on education and science of the Kursk Region Ms. Irina Stepanova and other regional government officials. During the official ceremony guests watched traditional Sri Lankan dance performances and a short film about Sri Lanka in Russian language. During the speech, H. E. Dr. Saman Weerasinghe highlighted the value of the city of Kursk in cooperation between Sri Lanka and Russia and expressed his hope that the appointment of Honorary Consul of Sri Lanka in Kursk would help to promote bilateral relations between two countries in trade, investments and tourism sectors. After the official ceremony H. E. Dr. Saman Weerasinghe and delegates from the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Russia had a discussion with Sri Lankan KSMU students on their educational matters. Furthermore, representatives of both Kursk government authorities and the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Russia had an official meeting during which both parties discussed further development of relations between the Kursk Region and Sri Lanka, taking into consideration the fact that lately the region has been demonstrating increase of export of several products, from corn and raw materials to industrial machinery and equipment, to other regions of Russia and foreign countries.