Sunday Dec 15, 2024
Sunday Dec 15, 2024
Monday, 18 June 2012 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Havana: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa who is on a state visit to Cuba met his Cuban counterpart President Raul Castro Saturday at the Revolutionary Hall in the Cuban capital of Havana and discussed enhancing the five-decades long diplomatic ties between the two countries.
Marking a significant milestone of five -decades long diplomatic relations between the two countries, President Rajapaksa has expressed his and his country’s appreciation to the Cuban leader and his Government for extending their support to Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council Session in Geneva recently.
The Cuban leader has welcomed the Sri Lankan President with a special military Guard of Honour.
The two statesmen have discussed ways to strengthen economic relations between the two countries and agreed to exchange knowledge and technology in various fields. The two leaders have discussed ways to increase the bilateral trade volume to a substantial level.
According to the President’s Media Unit, Cuba will provide nano and biotechnology expertise to develop coconut cultivation in Sri Lanka. Cuba has also expressed willingness to provide drugs and medicine manufactured in Cuba at concessionary rates to Sri Lanka.
The two countries have agreed to increase higher education opportunities in their countries for each other’s students and Cuba has also offered to provide physical education expertise for Sri Lankan athletes.
The President also visited the Jos Mart Memorial in Havana and paid respects to the Cuban national hero.
Ministers Wimal Weerawnsa, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Mahinda Amaraweera, Deputy Minister Nirupama Rajapaksa and Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga accompanied the President.
Sri Lanka and Cuba established diplomatic relations in 1959 and the ties between the two nations had further been strengthened by the Non-Alliance Movement Summit held in Sri Lanka in 1976.
