Sri Lanka's Saman Weerasinghe Receives Russia’s Top Civilian Honor

COLOMBO (News 1st); Russian President Vladimir Putin conferred one of the country’s most prestigious civilian honors—the Order of Friendship—on Dr. Saman Weerasinghe, Secretary General of the Sri Lanka–Russia Friendship Society and Head of the Russian Geographical Society in Sri Lanka.

Dr. Weerasinghe, a former Sri Lankan Ambassador to the Russian Federation, received the award in recognition of his decades-long efforts to strengthen bilateral ties between the two nations. In his acceptance speech, he expressed gratitude to President Putin for acknowledging his contribution and reaffirmed his commitment to deepening cultural, educational, and humanitarian cooperation.

President Putin, addressing the ceremony, praised Dr. Weerasinghe’s role in fostering mutual understanding and collaboration. “Saman Weerasinghe makes a great contribution to strengthening cultural and humanitarian ties with Russia,” the Russian leader noted.

The event took place on Russian National Unity Day.

Story By Zulfick Farzan