At the reception to celebrate the 65th anniversary of bilateral relations, Ambassador Mahinda Dasa Ratnayake recalled that both nations established them on July 29, 1959, and stressed that Sri Lanka was one of the first countries to consolidate ties with the Caribbean nation shortly after the triumph of the 1959 Revolution.

“Since then, our relations have flourished and expanded to many areas,” said Ratnayake, who also recalled the visit made by Commander Ernesto Che Guevara on a special mission commissioned by historical leader Fidel Castro in that 1959.

After assessing that Cuba has always been on the side of the Sri Lankan people, the head of the mission stressed that following the tsunami that caused 35,000 deaths and injured thousands more, Cuban doctors with medicines and medical equipment went to assist the destitute population.

Subsequently, in 2009 when Sri Lanka was afflicted by a severe dengue outbreak, the Cubans also helped to curb it with a bio-insecticide program.

Cuba also awarded scholarships to young Sri Lankans to study medicine among other careers, who now work as professionals in various parts of Sri Lanka, said Ratnayake, who reviewed the many visits that have exchanged leaders from both countries.

The ambassador stressed that Sri Lanka has supported Cuba in all UN resolutions against the economic, commercial and financial blockade of the United States government, and reiterated his government’s willingness to continue doing so.

He expressed the will of his government to continue solidifying relations and fostering economic and commercial links and people-to-people contacts.

The ceremony was attended by the Director for Asia and Oceania of the Chancellery of Cuba, Ambassador Ariel Lorenzo, as well as other officials from that ministry, the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples and other departments of the State.

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