He was grateful to Cuba for the dispatch of a five member Cuban Medical team to Haiti to look after the health needs of Sri Lankan workers in Haiti upon request made by the Government of Sri Lanka during the Covid-19 outbreak.

Hon. Speaker said so at the revival meeting of Sri Lanka – Cuba Parliamentary Friendship Association held in Parliament yesterday. Juana Elena Ramos Rodríguez, Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba to Sri Lanka and several Cabinet Ministers, State Ministers and Members of Parliament were present at the meeting.

‘’ I must not forget to mention here that Cuban doctors had made a valuable contribution in the medical field in Sri Lanka in the past. As per records, they had worked in hospitals in Ampara and Anuradhapura for many years and in 2004 during the catastrophe of the tsunami, they came forward again to help the affected community in Sri Lanka. I hope that this Friendship Association will add more  to the long-standing friendship and brotherhood that exist between our two countries and its people.’’ Hon. Speaker further said.

The new office bearers for the 9 th Parliament were elected at the meeting; accordingly, MP Prof. Thissa Vitharana was appointed as the President of the Sri Lanka – Cuba Parliamentary Friendship Association and Parliamentarians Hon. Weerasumana Weerasinghe, Hon. Sagara Kariyawasam and Hon. Aravindh Kumar
were appointed as the Vice Presidents of the Association. MPs Hon. Mohomad Muzammil and J.C Alawathuwala were appointed as the Secretary and the Treasurer of the association respectively.