A Joint Tourism Campaign between Sri Lanka and Russia is launched. Accordingly, the Russian Government fully supports the promotion of Sri Lanka as an attractive tourist destination among Russian tourists.

Hon.Minister of Tourism, Prasanna Ranatunga, who is currently on an official visit to Russia, had a discussion with Mrs. Elena V. Lysenkova, Deputy Head of the Federal Agency for Tourism of the Russian Federation and Mr. Smilevets Demyan Olegovich, Head of the Department of International Cooperation in Russia.  The agreements have been reached at this discussion that took place at the Federal Agency for Tourism of the Russian Federation in Moscow.

Hon.Minister, Prasanna Ranatunga briefed the Russian tourism authorities on the health guidelines being followed for tourists visiting Sri Lanka in the face of the Covid pandemic.  It was also agreed to implement promotional campaigns from the beginning of next month to promote Sri Lanka as an attractive destination for Russian tourists.  It was decided to build a stable communication network with the Russian and Sri Lankan travel agencies and to implement programs to promote Sri Lanka in the countries of the Russian Federation.

The two sides also exchanged views on Russia's Tourism Conferences, Tourism Exhibitions, and Promotional Tours for Russian Journalists and Expansion of Sri Lankan tourism investment opportunities for Russian Investors.

Hon. Minister of Tourism, Prasanna Ranatunga said that Sri Lanka is currently at the forefront of Covid vaccination and therefore, tourists are safe.  The government has taken steps to vaccinate 75% of the country's population before the end of this month, he further said.

The government aims to prevent the spread of Covid -19 virus from tourists to Sri Lankans and from Sri Lankans to tourists, he said.  After the resumption of the tourism industry in Sri Lanka, the largest number of tourists have come to Sri Lanka from countries in the Russian region.  25,476 tourists have visited the country in the recent past.  Among those, only 203 were reported as persons infected with Covid -19 virus.  It is only 0.79%, he said.

Mrs. Elena V. Lysenkova, Deputy Head of the Federal Agency for Tourism of the Russian Federation, agreed to extend the full support of the Russian Government to Sri Lanka for the development of the tourism industry in Sri Lanka.  She also said that the launch of direct flights from Colombo to Moscow is a reason to boost the tourism industry between the two countries.  She hoped that Russian Airlines would launch direct flights to Colombo from next month, which would further expand the joint campaign between the two countries to boost tourism.

The discussion was also attended by Mr.Madhava Devasurendra, Secretary to the State Ministry of Aviation and Export Zone Development, Mr. Rajiv Sooriyarachchi, Vice President of Airport and Aviation Services Ltd and officials from the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Russia.