Cuba pays tribute to long-standing
Sri Lankan friends
Ambassador Dayan Jayatilleka is among those honoured
The Permanent Mission
of Sri Lanka to the United Nations Office at Geneva
12th June 2008
The ambassador of Cuba to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Her Excellency
Enna Viant Valdés, hosted a unique award presentation ceremony
in a gesture of warmth and friendship to thank Cuba's Sri Lankan friends
on 10th June 2008 at the Galadari Hotel Colombo.
On this occasion, the Cuban Government paid tribute to distinguished
Sri Lankans drawn from various spheres. The Institute of Friendship
with the Peoples (ICAP) in Havana awarded diplomas to distinguished
Sri Lankans, who had given "long-standing friendship and support"
to Cuba. Among the eminent Sri Lankans who received the awards were
Hon. Prof. Tissa Vitarana, Minister of Science and Technology and Chairman
of the APRC, Hon. Mr. DEW Gunesekera, Minister of Constitutional Affairs
and National Integration and His Excellency Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka, Sri
Lanka's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations
in Geneva.
When presenting diplomas, Her Excellency Valdés was joined by
a high-level Cuban delegation from the Institute of Friendship with
the Peoples (ICAP) in Havana. This delegation led by Dr. Ismael Clark
Arxer, President of the Academy of Sciences of Cuba, is presently in
Sri Lanka to attend the 4th Asia-Pacific Regional Conference of Solidarity
with Cuba to be held on June 14th (Saturday).
In thanking H.E. the Ambassador and the Cuban delegation, Minister
DEW Gunesekera spoke of the close relations between Sri Lanka and Cuba
going back to 1959 when the Government of Sri Lanka recognized the new
Government in Cuba after the Revolution led by Fidel Castro. The Ambassador
and members of the Cuban delegation also spoke of the strong ties of
support and friendship that existed between the two countries and paid
glowing tributes to the recipients of the diplomas, who had been instrumental
in various ways in progressing these bonds in the challenging current
world context.
Meanwhile, according to a report in the Daily News (Colombo) of 12th
June 2008, the Cuban Delegation has called on Prime Minister Ratnasiri
Wickremanayake. During this meeting, the Prime Minister thanked Cuba
for the assistance it has been giving to Sri Lanka by way of scholarships
and dispatching of volunteer doctors under a UN programme.
The visiting scientist explained to Prime Minister Wickramanayaka the
vast strides Cuba has made in the field of bio-technology. According
to Dr. Ismael Clark, after the collapse of the Soviet Union when Cuba
faced a crisis, it turned attention to developing bio-technology as
a way of overcoming the crisis. Cuba is now a centre of excellence in
bio-technology.
Moreover, Cuba has developed an excellent medical system where new
vaccines have been developed to prevent hepatitis, meningitis and influenza.
Cuba has also almost completely controlled the mosquito menace. The
visiting President of the Academy also explained the advances made by
Cuba in the field of disaster management.
The Prime Minister expressed the hope that this visit will lead to
expansion of bilateral relations between our two countries into these
new fields as Sri Lanka can benefit from the advances made by Cuba in
bio technology and other areas such as disaster management.
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