Russia on Monday said it will increase trade and economic ties with Sri Lanka as the two countries celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations, Chinese state run Xinhua reported. It ws also revealed that President Maithripala Sirisena will visit Russia next March.

Russia's Ambassador to Sri Lanka Alexander Karchava, speaking to journalists in the capital, said that Sri Lanka and Russia have set up a joint committee on trade and economy and science and technology, and the first committee meeting took place in January this year.

The second meeting will be held in February next year, when both countries are expected to sign an agreement on fisheries which would be a very important step towards strengthening bilateral ties, Karchava said.

The Russian envoy said Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena would visit Russia next year and would hold discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin on March 23.

"We value this visit very highly because this will be the first visit by any Sri Lankan leader in several decades," Karchava said.

Sri Lanka's Speaker of Parliament, Karu Jayasuriya will also visit Russia on an official visit in June or July.

"2017 is very promising in strengthening bilateral relations due to these very high level visits. We look forward to these important visits," Karchava said.