For many decades now, the people of Cuba have been suffering the grave consequences of the US economic blockade, which has severely hampered Cuba's economic development and prevented the needs of the Cuban people from being met. In recent years, US administrations have further tightened measures against Cuba with actions such as the reinstatement of Cuba on the US State Department's "State Sponsors of Terrorism" list, which was made by the Donald Trump administration and is currently maintained by the Joe Biden administration.
This list serves as an instrument of coercion and economic pressure against the Cuban people. After all, Cuba has nothing to do with so-called terrorism; on the contrary, it plays a leading role in solidarity with other peoples in need, as was recently demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic. The inclusion of Cuba in this list poses a major obstacle to its trade and economic relations, since anyone doing business with Cuba risks being sanctioned by the United States, while Cuba is prevented from obtaining the energy, food and even medical equipment for the people of the country.
Expressing our solidarity with Cuba and its people, The Communist Party of Sri Lanka demands the immediate removal of Cuba from the US State Department's list of "State Sponsors of Terrorism" and the lifting of all unacceptable measures of the blockade against Cuba. We call on the Sri Lanka government to support the just demand to remove Cuba from the list of "State Sponsors of Terrorism".
Dr. G. Weerasinghe
General Secretary
Communist Party of Sri Lanka
31 May 2024