More ties with more countries-SL

22 June 2013 03:41 am

Sri Lanka said that it has forged diplomatic ties and further strengthened its relationships with a large number of countries in Latin America, Africa and the Caribbean.

Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Cuba, Sarath Dissanayake revealed this in an interview with Radio Havana’s flagship programme, ‘The world where we live in’, the embassy in Havana said in a statement.

Commenting on Sri Lanka - Cuba relations, Ambassador Dissanayake said that both Sri Lanka and Cuba being two island nations, have many things in common and shared perspectives on matters of mutual interest. Recalling the historic Cuban revolution in January 1959, he said that Sri Lanka is the first Asian country to have recognized the revolutionary government of Cuba in February 1959, following which the two countries established Diplomatic Relations in July 1959.

He also emphasized on Sri Lanka’s proactive role in the Commonwealth as the host of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in November 2013 following which it will assume the chair of CHOGM for the next two years. Commenting further, he said forthcoming CHOGM will provide a platform to promote mutually beneficial cooperation and partnerships among likeminded countries within and outside the Commonwealth.