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| Sunday, 28 November 2004 |
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Cuba reaffirms support for peace Cuba reaffirmed its support for peace in Sri Lanka and wished an acceptable negotiated political solution for its internal conflict for the well-being of the people. Cuban Ambassador Ms. Enna Viant Valdes said so at a ceremony in connection with the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Cuba and Sri Lanka held at Galadari Hotel on Tuesday. Ambassador Enna Viant Valdes said that the bilateral relationship between the two countries was inaugurated with the momentous visit of Ernesto. Che Guevara (then Minister of Agriculture) in mid-1959 constituting one of the first official contacts between the two countries and governments. The diplomatic relationship between Sri Lanka and Cuba was established on July 29, 1959. Then, Sri Lanka was one of the first countries to recognise the victorious Cuban Revolution. Today, Cuba was the only Latin American country to have an embassy in Colombo. The Cuban Ambassador said that the solidarity between the two nations had been so active that a committee for Solidarity with Cuba was formed and it conducted a national level campaign for threats and aggressions against Cuba in 1962. In may 1976, the Sri Lanka-Cuba Friendship Association was initiated and it was extended to other cities and they organised activities in support of the Cuban cause. In 1990s, the Parliamentarians' Friendship Association was formed. In the field of collaboration from 1961 to 2001, sixty-seven Sri Lankan students were graduated from Cuban universities and more than 100 Cuban collaborators functioned in the health field here. The Cuban Ambassador appreciated the vote of Sri Lanka at the UN General Assembly, where an overwhelming majority of countries supported the Cuban resolution against the North American economic blockade. On behalf of my government and the people of Cuba, I convey best wishes for the good health of our great leaders Fidel Castro and Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga," she added. The friendly relations between Cuba and Sri Lanka should be further strengthened, she concluded. |
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