Russia pledges support to fight extremism in Sri Lanka

“We will take steps to ban groups that are drawn to extremist activities,” Weerasekara told reporters.

He noted that Russian ambassador to Sri Lanka Yuri Materiy had agreed to support Sri Lanka’s efforts in this regard.

“All countries must join hands to eliminate racism and extremism by exchanging intelligence information,” the public security state minister insisted.

Sri Lanka is currently exploring the possibility of purchasing military equipment from Moscow, Russian Ambassador to Colombo, Yury Materiy has said in an interview with RIA Novosti.

Speaking to the RIA Novosti on the occasion for the Diplomatic Worker’s Day, the Ambassador said Military-technical cooperation between Russia and Sri Lanka has been steadily developing over the years.

During his recent visit to Sri Lanka, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced Moscow’s readiness to continue to supply the island with the weapons necessary to ensure its defense capability and maintain the country's security.

The Russian Ambassador to Sri Lanka has warned the island nation to be wary of terror financing coming in the guise of Covid-19 aid.

News reports quoted Materiy as saying: "Many extremist groups have been moving funds for terror activities and have additionally carried out such operations via the trade and trafficking of narcotics under the cover of humanitarian assistance for Muslim organisations and charities."

Russia also plans to provide Sri Lanka with the Sputnik vaccine as the ministries of health of the two nations have completed formalities for its distribution.

The two also discussed mutual cooperation between the countries related to trade which has gone up substantially despite the coronavirus pandemic.

The Russian ambassador also invited the minister to participate in international security forums being held in Russia in 2021.