MOSCOW. Feb 17 (Interfax-AVN) - The Russian and Sri Lankan governments are to sign an agreement making it easier for the Russian Navy's warships to enter the ports of the insular republic.
"To approve the draft agreement between the Russian government and the government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, which was submitted by the Russian Defense Ministry, agreed upon with the Russian Foreign Ministries, other federal executive authorities involved and the Russian Prosecutor General's Office, and prepared in cooperation with the Sri Lankan side," according to the Russian government order posted on the government's legal news website on Monday.
The document signed by Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev instructs the Russian Defense Ministry to hold talks with Sri Lanka, involving the Russian Foreign Ministry, and upon reaching an arrangement to sign an agreement on behalf of the Russian government, having allowed non-essential changes to the draft.