On 3rd June 2019 an official Sri Lankan delegation, comprised of Hon. Niroshan Perera, State Minister of National Policies, Economic Affairs, Resettlement and Rehabilitation, Northern Province Development and Youth Affairs, Mr. Diyagama Mudiyanselage Buddhika, Assistant Director, and Mr. Merrill Fernando, Coordinating Secretary to the Minister, arrived in the Russian Federation to participate in the Third BRICS and SCO Student Spring International Festival and Education Forum, which took take place in Stavropol city from 04 to 09 June 2019.
The Festival, aimed at preserving and promoting the cultural inheritance and achievements of the young people, as well as strengthening cultural ties between the youth groups and organizations of BRICS and SCO countries, brought together more than 2500 participants, thus becoming one of the largest youth events on the territory of the Russian Federation in 2019.
The main organizers of the event are the All-Russian Public Organization “Russian Union of Youth” and the Government of the Stavropol region of the Russian Federation, supported by the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs, as well as the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Cooperation.
Hon. Niroshan Perera delivered a speech at the Education Forum. Apart from the Ministerial delegation, Sri Lanka was represented in various sections of the Festival. Mr. Diyagama also participated at the IV Forum of Young Leaders, while four members of the journalist group took part in the II Forum of Young Journalists from BRICS and SCO countries. One Sri Lankan representative participated in the XXVIII International Beauty and Talent Contest “Queen of Students – 2019,” and one contested in the International Music Competition "Universality.” Five-member dancing group entertained the audience with their traditional Sri Lankan performance at the International Creative Project “Art Hall” and during the closing ceremony, all participants from Sri Lanka were awarded with Diplomas.
H.E. Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Sri Lanka to the Russian Federation, was represented at the Festival by Second Secretary of the Embassy, Ms. Nirosha K. Herath.
On the 06 May 2019, Hon. Niroshan Perera had a meeting with Mr. Alexander Bugaev, Head of the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs. During the meeting, the parties discussed signing a Memorandum of Understanding for Youth Exchanges. The State Minister cordially invited Mr. Bugaev to visit Sri Lanka, While the Head of the Federal Youth Agency expressed his determination to take further steps to build up strong ties between the two countries, by promoting the youth exchange programs.
