Sri Lanka’s support vital in battling IS: Russia

Colombo: The support of the Sri Lankan parliament is vital in the battle against the Islamic State terrorists, a Russian parliamentary delegation to Sri Lanka said on Wednesday.

The five-member delegation, led by Ilyas Mahomed-Salomovich Umakhanov, vice chairman of the Federation Council (upper house) of the Russian Federal Assembly was in Sri Lanka from November 30 to December 2, Xinhua news agency reported citing the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry.

The delegation visited Sri Lanka on the invitation of Speaker of Parliament Karu Jayasuriya.

Umakhanov said Sri Lanka’s own experience in defeating the Tamil Tiger rebels was important in the elimination of terrorism from the world and the support of the Sri Lankan parliament was vital in the battle against IS.

During its visit, the Russian parliamentary delegation held meetings with Speaker Jayasuriya, Deputy Speaker Thilanga Sumathipala and also called on Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera.

The delegation also held discussions with the Sri Lanka-Russia Parliamentary Friendship Association, the Foreign Ministry said.