The President of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa, arrived in Cuba this Friday for an official visit and meeting an invitation by host President Raul Castro. 

Cuban Vice Foreign Minister Ana Teresita Gonzalez welcomed Rajapaksa and a group of members of his cabinet, were welcomed at the Jose Marti International Airport.

According to the official agenda, the visiting head of state will honor in this capital National Hero Jose Marti and hold talks with Raul Castro and other Cuban officials.

Rajapaksa will also meet with relatives of the Five Cuban anti-terrorists imprisoned in the US near 14 years for monitoring terrorist anti-Cuba groups operating from south Florida, and will tour the Laboratorios Biologicos Farmaceuticos and Old Havana historic center - which the UNESCO declared World Heritage in 1982.

Cuba and Sri Lanka established diplomatic relations in July 1959, ties developed namely in education, health, culture and sports.

Near 41 of its nationals are studying in Cuban Universities and there are some 70 grads.

Havana sent a medical brigade and logistics to help Colombo deal with the effects of the 2005 tsunami while it has sided with Cuba fight against the US over 50-year economic, commercial and financial blockade.

Official sources said Rajapaksa will head to Brazil to attend the UN Conference on Sustainable Development Rio+20.