President Maithripala Sirisena revealed yesterday that he would accept an invitation to visit Russia on a state visit, in two weeks time.

Addressing a gathering of expatriate Sri Lankans at the Sri Lankan Embassy in Indonesia yesterday, he said: “I will make another official visit to Russia in two weeks, accepting their invitation for a Sri Lankan leader after 44 years.”

The President is currently in Indonesia to attend the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Leaders’ Summit. It is also the first state visit by a Sri Lankan leader to Indonesia in 40 years.