The Days of Sri Lanka Culture commenced on 23 September at the prestigious Russian State Library in Moscow, jointly hosted by the Embassy of Sri Lanka in the Russian Federation and the Russian State Library.
Held in the grand and historic surroundings of one of Russia’s most important cultural institutions, the event presented Sri Lanka’s rich cultural heritage, history and contemporary identity to the Russian public and members of Moscow’s literary and cultural community.
The event also marked the commencement of Sri Lanka’s celebrations of the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Russia, under the theme “70 years – 70 Initiatives” highlighting the enduring cultural connections and people to people bonds that have enriched the friendship between the two countries over seven decades.
Through a carefully curated cultural presentation and exhibition, visitors were introduced to Sri Lanka’s literary heritage, traditional arts and crafts, architecture, landscapes and cultural traditions.
The opening ceremony was graced by a distinguished gathering of scholars, academics, students of Asian literature and history, authors, and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Addressing the gathering, Ambassador Shobini Gunasekera spoke of the enduring literary and cultural connections between Sri Lanka and Russia, recalling how generations of Russian travellers and writers had long been captivated by the beauty and mystique of what was then known as Ceylon. She noted that these early encounters had planted the seeds of a relationship that has since blossomed into a rich tradition of literary exchange and mutual appreciation.
Ms. Marina Melanyina, Head of the Oriental Centre of the Russian State Library, welcomed the initiative, emphasizing the importance of such exhibitions in deepening cultural understanding between Russia and Sri Lanka and in making the treasures of Sri Lankan literature and heritage more accessible to Russian audiences and researchers. She presented the oldest exhibits in the Library's collection, including the world's first printed grammar of the Sinhala language, published in the early 18th century.
Ms. Marina Korostelyova, First Deputy Secretary of the Russian Association for International Cooperation and Society of Frienship with Sri Lanka, highlighted the longstanding people-to-people ties between the two countries, underscoring the role that cultural diplomacy and literary exchange have played in strengthening the friendship between Sri Lanka and Russia over the past seven decades. She emphasized the role of tea in the traditions of both countries and the deep connection between the two cultures.
The evening was further brightened by a captivating “Ves” dance performance, bringing to life one of Sri Lanka’s most distinctive art forms and Counsellor Mihiravi Dissanayake serenaded the audience with a rendition of the song “Olu Pipila” – by Veteran musician Sunil Shantha together with a classical Russian song sung by a medical student of Sri Lanka in Moscow offering the audience a vivid celebration of both cultures' artistic heritage. A selection of contemporary Sinhala books was also gifted to the Library, enriching its collection and furthering access to Sri Lankan literature for Russian readers and researchers. The opening ceremony concluded with the invitees being treated to Sri Lankan delicacies and Ceylon tea.
The Exhibition, which continues until 30 September 2026, features a series of daily thematic sessions dedicated to different facets of Sri Lankan arts, literature and architecture, presented by eminent scholars and translators, as follows:
𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝟮𝟰𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
Mr. Sanath Abeysekera, Architect-Designer and PhD Candidate, National Research University Higher School of Economics (HSE), Moscow
"𝙆𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙙𝙖𝙨𝙖'𝙨 𝙋𝙤𝙚𝙩𝙧𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄𝙩𝙨 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙥𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙡 𝙍𝙚𝙛𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙇𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙚 𝘼𝙧𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙎𝙞𝙜𝙞𝙧𝙞𝙮𝙖"
𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝟮𝟱𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
Dr. Ranjana Senasinghe, Editor-in-Chief, National Encyclopedia
"𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙍𝙪𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙎𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙩 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝘼𝙧𝙩 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙎𝙞𝙣𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙖 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙄𝙣𝙛𝙡𝙪𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙇𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙎𝙧𝙞 𝙇𝙖𝙣𝙠𝙖 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 20𝙩𝙝 𝘾𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙮"
𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝟮𝟲𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
Mr. Rupasiri Perera, An active member of the Sri Lankan Buddhist Association in Moscow
"𝙀𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙍𝙪𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝙇𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙎𝙞𝙣𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙖 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙀𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙎𝙞𝙣𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙖 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙨"
𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝟮𝟴𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
Mr. Felix Fernando, Prominent Sri Lankan Translator, Language Expert and Educator Specialising in the Russian Language
"𝙊𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘾𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙎𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙘 𝙑𝙤𝙘𝙖𝙗𝙪𝙡𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙇𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙍𝙪𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙎𝙞𝙣𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙖"
𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝟮𝟵𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
Prof. Boris Volkhonsky, PhD in Philology, Associate Professor at the Department of Indian Philology, Institute of Asian and African Studies, Lomonosov Moscow State University.
"𝙃𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙎𝙞𝙣𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙖 𝙇𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙪𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙇𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙎𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙐𝙎𝙎𝙍 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙍𝙪𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙖"
𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝟯𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
Ms. Marina Korastelyova, Deputy Secretary, Russian Association for International Cooperation/Friendship Society with Sri Lanka
"𝙏𝙚𝙖 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙇𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚"
