The Earth Day celebration jointly organized by the Asian Ladies Association (ALA) in Cuba in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX) of Cuba, the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources (INRIH) and the Cuban Institute of Friendship with Peoples (ICAP) was held at the Metropolitan Park in Central Havana, Cuba on 22nd April 2015 with the participation of a large gathering of distinguished guests and invitees. The ALA consists of 14 Asian countries; China, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, North Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Solomon Islands, Vietnam and Mongolia. The President of the ALA is Mrs. Ramanika Dissanayake of Sri Lanka, spouse of Sri Lanka Ambassador to Cuba Sarath Dissanayake.
To commemorate Earth Day, the President of the ALA, Ramanika Dissanayake, accompanied by the President of ICAP, Kenia Serrano, Deputy Director / Asia & Oceania Division of MINREX, Mario Alzugaray, Specialist / INRIH, Amneris Carrera, Director of Metropolitan Park, Lazaro Rivera Hernandez, officials, students and members of ALA planted over 300 fruit , timber and endemic plants in a special plot of land designated as the “ Forest of Friendship” which was declared open by unveiling a special plaque carrying the flags of the 14 - member countries of ALA. Parallel to the main event, groups of children drawn from Cuban and international schools in Havana presented a series of educational and entertainment activities dedicated to the earth and environment.
The Earth Day celebrations that paved the way for members of the Asian and Cuban communities to come together for a common cause, was aimed at promoting awareness and cooperation in regard to preserving the mother earth and environment in a spirit of friendship and solidarity.
Speaking on the occasion, the President of ALA, Mrs. Dissanayake welcomed guests who joined the celebrations and appreciated their commitment and enthusiasm for the just cause. The ALA President underscored the importance of all stakeholders working together to make the Earth Day truly meaningful for all. The President of ICAP Kenia Serrano, in her remarks, laid emphasis on child - oriented awareness campaigns with a focus on future generations as key to realizing the green revolution. The MINREX Representative, Mr Alzugaray also delivered an address in which he spoke of Cuba’s unique accomplishments in the fields of sustainable development and environment, due to Cuba’s community oriented cooperative societies system and its broad based participatory network. The Director of Metropolitan Park, in his address, thanked the guests and participants for their meaningful contribution to make the Earth Day celebrations a success and expressed his friendship and solidarity with all.
The Earth Day 2015 celebrated in Havana on 22nd April 2015 was an accomplishment of the ALA in its endeavours to reach out to the Cuban people to further the promotion of friendship and cooperation between Asian countries and Cuba.
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Havana
29th April 2015
