News
Cuba – SL Presidents meet
President Ranil Wickremesinghe, embarked on an official visit to Cuba ahead of his participation in the G77 plus China Summit in Havana on September 15-16, hosted by Cuba as the current Chair of the G77 plus China.
During his visit, President Wickremesinghe engaged in bilateral discussions with Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermudez, reinforcing the bonds of friendship and dialogue between the two nations.
President Wickremesinghe’s arrival in Cuba was marked by a warm welcome, as he received a Guard of Honour at the Palace of Revolution. President Díaz-Canel Bermudez expressed Cuba’s appreciation for the visit, emphasizing its significance during these challenging times globally. He praised Sri Lanka’s commitment to friendship with Cuba and to the vital role played by the G77 and China in representing the global South.
In their discussions, President Wickremesinghe recalled the history of bilateral cooperation between Sri Lanka and Cuba, particularly in multilateral forums. Both nations have supported each other on issues like lifting sanctions against Cuba and human rights matters. They identified areas of future cooperation, including public health, agriculture and sports.
President Díaz-Canel accepted President Wickremesinghe’s invitation to visit Sri Lanka in 2024, underscoring Cuba’s continued support for Sri Lanka. He also highlighted Cuba’s role in addressing North-South gaps in Science, Technology and Innovation, expressing willingness to share expertise, particularly in vaccine development.
The two leaders emphasized the importance of bolstering the relationship between their countries, focusing on collaboration in medicine, healthcare, sports training and coconut cultivation. President Wickremesinghe expressed Sri Lanka’s commitment to supporting Cuba in international forums, while President Díaz-Canel assured support for Sri Lanka regarding human rights resolutions.
This meeting represents a significant step forward in strengthening diplomatic ties between Sri Lanka and Cuba, with far-reaching implications for both nations and the broader global community. President Wickremesinghe was accompanied by key officials, including Secretary Foreign Affairs Ms. Aruni Wijewardane, the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Cuba Mr. Lakshitha Ratnayake, the Director General of the United Nations and Multilateral Affairs Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Rekha Gunasekera and Private Secretary to the President Ms. Sandra Perera.
(President’s Media Division)
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President meets officials from Customs & IRD
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake held a key meeting today (Oct. 09) with senior officials from both the Sri Lanka Customs Department and the Inland Revenue Department at the Presidential Secretariat today (09). The discussions centered on strategies to enhance revenue generation and improve operational efficiency within both departments, in line with the government’s broader economic mandate.
During the meeting, officials from both departments presented the challenges they face in managing revenue and tackling tax evasion. They stressed the importance of strengthening coordination between the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) and Customs to effectively combat these issues. It was highlighted that better collaboration would ensure more robust enforcement of tax laws and prevent tax leakage, further boosting the country’s revenue collection.
Representing the Sri Lanka Customs Department were Mr. PBSC Nonis, Director General of Customs; Mrs. HW SP Karunaratne, Additional Director General of Customs; Mr. CSA Chandrasekara, Additional Director General of Customs; Mr. WSI Silva, Additional Director General of Customs; Mr. SP Arukgoda, Additional Director General of Customs; Mr. J M M G Wijeratna Bandara, Additional Director General of Customs; Mr. A. W. L. C. Weerakoon, Senior Deputy Director and Mr. MRGAB Muthukuda, Chief Financial Officer, among other officials.
From the Inland Revenue Department, Mrs. WS Chandrasekara, Commissioner General; Mr. BKS Shanta, Deputy Commissioner General; Mrs. JADDB K Siriwardena, Deputy Commissioner General; Mrs. JD Ranasinghe, Deputy Commissioner General; Mr. DMNSB Dissanayake, Deputy Commissioner General; Mr. HHS Samantha Kumara; and Ms. TMS Thennakone, Senior Commissioner, participated in the discussions.
(President’s Media Division)
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