A delegation from Chuvash I. Yakovlev State Pedagogical University, Russia visited the University of Kelaniya on the 14^th of May 2026 and met with Senior Prof. Nilanthi de Silva, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya at the Vice-Chancellor’s office. The delegation included Prof. Alехander Alekseevich Kirillov, Head of the Department of Scientific and Innovative Work; Prof. Larisa Gennadievna Vasilyeva, Head of the Department of Education; and Prof. Galina Alеksаndrovnа Aleksandrova, Head of the Department of Postgraduate Studies.

As a result of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the universities, twenty students from Russian language studies will be leaving for Moscow next week to take part in a one-week language training programme. The visiting delegates proposed several initiatives to develop and promote Russian language among students and Sri Lankan citizens, including art and essay competitions and translations of Russian story books. A joint conference on Russian language teaching was also discussed. Further, the visiting delegates explained a programme already put in place to train Russian language teachers in schools and at the University of Kelaniya assuring their continued support.

Ven. Dr Meemure Gunananda Thero, Senior Lecturer in Russian; Dr Udara de Silva, Head, Department of Modern Languages; and Dr Ranjana Senasinghe and Mrs Bagya Matharahewage from the Russian language studies attended the meeting. Dr Samanthi Jayawardena, Director and Ms Rasangi Gamage, Coordinator of the Centre for International Affairs also took part in the discussion.