Deputy Minister of Defence and Defence Secretary Graces Russian
“Defender of the Fatherland Day” Ceremony
February 20, 2026
The Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd), graced the Russian “Defender of the Fatherland Day” ceremony as the chief guest held at the Cinnamon Life, City of Dreams Hotel in Colombo yesterday (19 February). The Defence Secretary, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd) were also in attendece of the occasion which, the event organized by the Russian Embassy in Colombo.
Fatherland's Defender Day is a solemn occasion to honour the bravery and dedication of the veterans who have served in the armed forces of the Russian Federation. At this event to mark the occasion, H.E. Levan S. Dzhagaryan, the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Sri Lanka, highlighted the strong spirit of cordial coordination and cooperation between the two nations.
Addressing the gathering, the Deputy Minister underscored the enduring and evolving relationship between the Russian Federation and Sri Lanka, noting that bilateral ties have continued to strengthen since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1957.
In his remarks, the Deputy Minister expressed appreciation for Russia’s continued cooperation across multiple sectors facilitated through the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Tourism, Scientific, and Technical Cooperation, which serves as a structured mechanism for bilateral engagement. He further highlighted the active collaboration between business councils in promoting trade and investment opportunities, as well as cultural exchange programmes that contribute to strengthening people to people ties.
The Deputy Minister also conveyed his gratitude to the people of Russia for the humanitarian assistance extended to Sri Lanka during the national disaster caused by the ‘Ditwah’ cyclone.
Emphasizing future prospects, he observed that the complementarities between Russia’s technological and energy expertise and Sri Lanka’s logistical capabilities and maritime infrastructure offer significant potential for joint initiatives across various fields.
The Air and Naval Attaché of Russian Embassy in Sri Lanka, Colonel Sergei Beliankin and members of the diplomatic corps, the Commander of the Air Force, senior officers of the Tri Forces, and officials of the Ministry of Defence attended the ceremony were also present at the occasion.
