Sri Lanka's leader in Parliament and Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation, Bimal Rathnayake, and Cuban Ambassador to this nation, Andrés González, discussed their countries' ties.

Colombo.- Sunil Kumara Gamage, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports and President of the Sri Lanka-Cuba Parliamentary Friendship Association, also participated in the meeting to discuss issues of mutual interest to enhance bilateral cooperation and friendship.

The Cuban mission in Colombo informed that during the friendly meeting, the Cuban diplomat thanked the South Asian island for its continued solidarity with the Caribbean nation, the source indicated.

At a reception in Havana on August 4, marking 65 years of diplomatic ties, Sri Lankan Ambassador to Cuba, Mahinda Dasa Ratnayake, stressed that Sri Lanka was one of the first countries to consolidate relations with the Caribbean nation shortly after the triumph of the Revolution in 1959.

“Since then, our relations have thrived and expanded to many spheres,” Ratnayake noted, and remembered the visit made by Commander Ernesto Che Guevara on a special mission entrusted by historic leader Fidel Castro in 1959.

After assessing that Cuba has always stood by the Sri Lankan people, the head of Mission emphasized that in the wake of the tsunami that killed 35,000 people and injured thousands more, Cuban doctors with medicines and medical equipment came to assist the vulnerable population. (PL)