During his stay on the island, Mahinda Rajapaksa will hold talks with President Raul Castro and carry out other activities on his agenda, according to Granma daily newspaper.

The Sri Lankan head of state was born November 18, 1954. He studied law at the University of Richmond and at the Law College of Colombo, Sri Lanka.
In 1970, Rajapaksa became a member of parliament for the Sri Lanka's Freedom Party (SFLP), following the steps of his father. In 1994, he was appointed labor minister and Fishing and Marine Resource minister in 1997.

Rajapaksa was Sri Lanka's Prime Minister from 2004 to 2005 and became President on November 19, 2005. He was re-elected in 2010 by large majority. He has also been a progressive union leader and human rights activist. Rajapaksa was the president of Sri Lanka's Committee for Solidarity with Palestine during 25 years. He is married and has three children.