Patriotic National Movement Raises Concern Over Omission of Russian Aid in Sunday Observer Article

Dec 31, 2025 at 01:39 PM

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Lanka Leader

The Patriotic National Movement (PNM) has expressed serious concern over the failure to mention Russian humanitarian assistance in a recent Sunday Observer article.

In a statement, PNM General Secretary Dr. Wasantha Bandara highlighted that the article titled “When Disaster Tests Diplomacy,” written by Fazli M. Auff and published on December 28, made no reference to the 35 tons of humanitarian aid donated by the people of the Russian Federation to Sri Lankans affected by recent disasters.

Dr. Bandara stated that such an omission cannot be viewed lightly and warned that it appears to be part of a subtle attempt to undermine Sri Lanka’s long-standing diplomatic friendship with Russia. He further raised concerns over whether the current government is exercising proper oversight to prevent such actions and whether those responsible are being allowed to act without accountability.

The Patriotic National Movement has called for appropriate attention to be given to the matter, stressing the importance of recognizing and safeguarding Sri Lanka’s traditional international friendships.

The full statement is reproduced below.

PRESS RELEASE

Government’s Diplomatic Missteps Raise National Concern Amid Disaster Response

The government’s apparent inability to clearly identify and respect Sri Lanka’s true diplomatic friends and partners has become a matter of serious national concern.

In the aftermath of Cyclone Ditva, which caused extensive damage across Sri Lanka in recent days, neighboring and friendly nations responded promptly with humanitarian assistance. These countries, many of them long-standing friends of Sri Lanka, demonstrated solidarity at a critical time. As a nation—and particularly as a government representing the will of the people—it is our duty to acknowledge and express gratitude for such support.

However, it is with deep concern that we note a significant omission in the article titled “When Disaster Tests Diplomacy,” written by Fazli M. Auff and published in the Sunday Observer on December 28. The article failed to mention the 35 tons of humanitarian aid donated by the people of the Russian Federation to those affected by the cyclone. This omission cannot be dismissed as a simple oversight.

The Russian Embassy in Sri Lanka has already issued a statement expressing its concern regarding this matter. Russia has been a long-standing and reliable friend of Sri Lanka, and recent developments suggest a troubling pattern that appears to undermine this important diplomatic relationship. This raises serious questions as to whether such actions are being overlooked—or indirectly endorsed—by the current government.

We urge the government to take timely and diplomatically appropriate measures to address and rectify the actions of the Sunday Observer that have adversely affected the long-standing friendship between Sri Lanka and the Russian Federation. Immediate steps must be taken to repair the damage caused and to reaffirm Sri Lanka’s commitment to its trusted international partners.

We firmly believe that alienating genuine friends is far more harmful to the nation than confronting an adversary.

 Dr. Wasantha Bandara

General Secretary,

Patriotic National Movement 

31st of December 2025