From Russia with love

By Ranga Jayasuriya

With the United States of America and the European Union having opted out of providing military assistance to Sri Lanka, the Russian Federation has stepped in and guaranteed a $ 500 Million worth credit line for military procurements.
Diplomatic sources close to the Russian embassy in Sri Lanka said that negotiations were underway between the Sri Lankan delegates and their Russian counterparts and that they would very likely produce positive outcomes.
Russian diplomats are negotiating with Lankan Logistics, the Government arm responsible for procurement and research on weapons. The first Russian delegation visited Sri Lanka in January. The latest development is considered to be of great significance because of the go-slow approach adopted by the US and the EU in providing military assistance to Sri Lanka.
The US stopped providing offensive military weapons to Sri Lanka some time ago following a resolution made in Congress in this regard. At present, the US is providing intelligence assistance only to Sri Lanka with regard to its military activities. The European Union too decided against assisting Sri Lanka militarily.