Sri Lankan President Begins Intense Agenda in Cuba

Havana, Jun 16. – Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa will fulfill an tight schedule in this capital on Saturday, including a reception and official talks.

According to the program, the statesman will also pay tribute to Cuban National Hero Jose Marti at the Revolution Square.

Rajapaksa arrived in Cuba on Friday in response to an invitation from President Raul Castro, with whom he will hold talks.

Rajapaksa's agenda also includes exchanges with other authorities and visits to sites of scientific and socio-economic interest, among them LABIOFAM (Biological Pharmaceutical Laboratories) and Havana's historic heart, declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1982.

Cuba and Sri Lanka established diplomatic relations in July 1959, with ties in such sectors as education, health, culture and sports.

According to sources from Sri Lanka, Rajapaksa will travel from Havana to Brazil to attend the UN Conference on Sustainable Development.(Prensa Latina)