Diplomatic relations between the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka began in 1956 under the leadership of prime minister S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike. Under the Sri Lanka Freedom Party the country started moving towards a foreign policy of neutrality and non-alignment so the prime minister established strong diplomatic ties with the Soviet Bloc to counter the pro western policy of the United National Party. Soviet Union granted 120 million LKR as economic aid to prime minister S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike shortly after establishing diplomatic ties. Total foreign aid received from the USSR during his tenure rose up to 355.9 million LKR exceeding the total amount of aid given from Capitalist nations.[1].
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