President leaves Havana for Brazil to attend Rio+20

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has ended his visit to Cuba Monday and leaves for Brazil today to attend the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio+20 scheduled to be held in Rio de Janeiro from June 20 - 22.

During his three-day visit to Cuba, the President met with the Cuban leader President Raul Castro and the Vice President Marino Murillo Jorge and held discussions on strengthening the relations between the two countries.

The discussions with the Cuban Vice President have focused on Sri Lanka’s current political and social status and economic development, the state-run radio SLBC said.

The two leaders have discussed ways to strengthen health, sports sectors and to develop economic relations between the two countries.

According to the Presidential Media Coordinating Secretary Wijayananda Herath an agreement has been reached on getting Cuban assistance to improve sport of boxing in Sri Lanka.

The two countries have also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Monday on development of coconut industry in Sri Lanka.

Under the MoU, Cuba using its expertise in nanotechnology will assist Sri Lanka to develop the local coconut cultivation and to eradicate the insect menace affecting the industry. The MOU will cover technical mechanisms for Copra manufacture and manufacture of by-products using coir and production of energy from coconut waste products.

Sri Lanka’s Minister of External Affairs Professor G.L. Peiris signed the MoU on behalf of Sri Lanka and Cuban Agriculture Minister Gustavo Rodriguez signed on behalf of the host.  President Rajapaksa has also visited the house of the Cuban revolutionary leader Che Guevara Sunday and met with the family of the late leader. Mrs. Guevara has presented two books written by Che Guevara to the President.