As soon as Anura became President, the Russian Ambassador to Sri Lanka met with him. During the meeting, he handed over a personal invitation from Russian President Vladimir Putin, inviting Anura to attend the BRICS summit held in Russia.
Russia has historically maintained close ties with the JVP, reputed to be an anti-American and anti-imperialist party. From this perspective, Russia likely viewed Anura’s rise to power as an opportunity to add another country to the group of nations opposed to the United States and friendly toward Russia. Putin probably extended the invitation to Anura immediately after he assumed the presidency, based on this expectation.
However, Anura did not accept Putin’s invitation. He may have been reluctant to do so to avoid upsetting the United States, with which he maintained a close relationship through the U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Julie Chung.
Meanwhile, when Anura came to power, the government of Ranil Wickremesinghe had already decided to hand over Mattala Airport to a joint Russia-India company. Due to U.S. sanctions on Russia, Ambassador Julie Chung pressured the government to halt the plan. Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva publicly confirmed this and stated that the government would not bow to U.S. pressure. However, after Anura became President, the decision to hand over Mattala Airport to the Russia-India joint venture was reversed, in line with U.S. pressure.
Angered by this, the Russian Ambassador stated at a media briefing that there were no viable projects for investment in Sri Lanka and that the country’s environment was not conducive for investment.
With the onset of the Iran war, the United States lifted the sanctions it had imposed on Russia, allowing India to obtain oil from Russia. Soon after the restrictions were lifted, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath met with the Russian Ambassador and requested assistance in purchasing the oil Sri Lanka needed. Russia facilitated discussions by connecting Sri Lanka with its Energy Minister, but an issue has arisen regarding the currency to be used for payment.
Anura likely did not anticipate such a crisis when he declined Putin’s invitation. Had he attended the BRICS summit and strengthened ties with Putin, Sri Lanka might have received a more favourable response from Russia. Russia may now be thinking, “our turn has come.”
