The Minister of Agriculture, Duminda Dissanayake visited Cuba from 07th to 13th November 2015 and represented the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) as its Secretary General at the 19th General Assembly of the World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY) and its 70th Anniversary Celebrations held in Havana, Cuba from 09th to 12th November 2015 which also coincided with the 10th International Commission of the Communist Youth Federation of Cuba (UJC). The Minister was received on arrival by members of the Cuban Young Communist League and the Sri Lankan Embassy staff.
The Minister of Agriculture, Duminda Dissanayake visited Cuba from 07th to 13th November 2015 and represented the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) as its Secretary General at the 19th General Assembly of the World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY) and its 70th Anniversary Celebrations held in Havana, Cuba from 09th to 12th November 2015 which also coincided with the 10th International Commission of the Communist Youth Federation of Cuba (UJC). The Minister was received on arrival by members of the Cuban Young Communist League and the Sri Lankan Embassy staff.
The multi - party Sri Lankan delegation that participated at the WFDY General Assembly and its 70th Anniversary Celebrations as well as the 10th Anniversary of the UJC also included Members of Parliament from the People’s Liberation Front (JVP) Bimal Ratnayake and Nalinda Jayatissa and the Southern Provincial Council Minister, Weerasumana Weerasinghe who represented the Communist Party.
The 4 - day conference that continued from 09 - 12 November was attended by over 150 delegates representing political parties from more than 45 countries. The delegates at the conference deliberated on a range of topics of interest for the youth and participated in discussions on such subjects as youth participation in governance, role of youth brigades in promoting peace, friendship and solidarity, networking and international cooperation etc, and also joined a series of programs and cultural activities organized by the Cuban Young Communist League in a spirit of friendship, unity and solidarity with Cuban people.
During his stay in Cuba, Minister Duminda Dissanayake took some time off his busy schedule to visit agricultural centres of excellence in Havana and experienced first-hand the latest scientific farming concepts practiced in Cuba including “Organoponico” and “urban farming” etc which have gained added significance and have become very popular among countries around the world. The Minister also discussed with Cuban officials the possibility to conduct exchange programs and technology transfer between the two countries to be able to learn from each other and share expertise and knowhow for mutual benefit. The Minister also met with a cross section of the Sri Lankan students in Cuba and inquired about their well-being and studies. He also met with the staff of the Sri Lankan Embassy in Havana and apprised them of the foreign policy and development initiatives of the new government under the leadership of President Maithripala Sirisena.
The Minister was accompanied on the programme of visits and appointments in Havana by Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Cuba, Sarath Dissanayake.
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Havana
30 November 2015
