Cuban Revolution ended neo colonial domination

Message from Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba Nirsia Castro Guevara on the occasion of the National Day, 52nd Anniversary of the triumphof the revolution

On the occasion of the National Day of the Republic of Cuba, January 1, when we celebrate with joy and rejoicing the 52nd anniversary of the Cuban Revolution, we wish to convey our best wishes for the happiness, prosperity and peace to the people of Sri Lanka and its government headed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Nirsia Castro Guevara Ambassador of Republic of Cuba

On the first of January, with the victory of the Cuban Revolution the Cuban people put an end to 60 years of neocolonial domination and achieved full independence and sovereignty. The victory opened the way to implement a policy of social justice with due respect to human dignity for every Cuban citizen.

The country has managed to build a model of society in which justice, non-discrimination and equality of right for every citizen prevail. Cuba guarantees to all its population appropriate nutrition, the free access to advanced and efficient health and educational systems, the conditions for the free access and practice of all kind of cultural and sports activities, levels of adequate housing and employment for all, protection for the life in the case of natural disasters and the full participation of the citizens in each electoral and decision making process.

Despite the economic, commercial and financial blockade Cuba has been subjected for almost 49 years that has caused damages for more than 100 billion dollars; Cuba has succeeded in maintaining economic development and the social benefits for its population, as well as the fraternal cooperation with a number of third world countries.

Cuba offers medical cooperation to more than 70 countries where there are more than 37, 000 internationalist health workers, out of them 18,000 doctors. In Cuba there are more than 31,000 foreign students, most of them studying medicine. Besides that, as part of the program Operation Miracle designed to help the people with eye diseases, more than 1.6 million ophthalmologist surgeries have been performed in 33 countries.

Cuba is implementing a process of changes in its economic model addressed to achieve a solid and dynamic economy and eliminate the unnecessary expenses and waste of resources in order to keep on improving the people’s living standards, maintaining and improving the high levels already reached in education and health care, which are guaranteed free of charge for all citizens.

While preserving the Socialism as a system elected by our people, the State’s role will be change, from being the administrator of economic activity to be a regulator of it. Cuba and Sri Lanka have developed friendly relations of mutual support and cooperation for the benefit of our two peoples along the years. Both countries are members of Non Aligned Movement and have played an active role in it, as well as in others international organizations. Sri Lanka has supported Cuban efforts to get the end of the blockade and against campaigns to discredit the Revolution.

On behalf of the people of Cuba and President Raul Castro we wish a peaceful and prosperous 2011 to Sri Lankan people and President Mahinda Rajapaksa.