Yeltsin heralded a new era in Russia - President

COLOMBO: Boris Yeltsin goes down in history as the person who heralded a new era in Russia after his election in 1991, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday in a condolence message sent to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The message: “I was profoundly saddened to receive news of the passing away of Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin, the former President of the Russian Federation. The death of former President Yeltsin who steered your country through a difficult transitional period, will be greatly felt.

On behalf of the Government and the people of Sri Lanka and on my own behalf, I convey my deepest sympathies to Your Excellency, the Government and the People of the Russian Federation and the members of his family, on this sad occasion.”