Friedrich Naumann Foundation resumes project work in Sri Lanka
Almost two years after the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom had to close its office in Sri Lanka it has taken up its project work again. On invitation of Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, Ulrich Niemann, Head of the Foreign Department of the Foundation, and Chitranganee Wageeswara, State Secretary in the Foreign Ministry of Sri Lanka, exchanged the cooperation agreement. “The experience and expertise of the foundation is of great value for the reform process in Sri Lanka,” Deputy Foreign Minister Harsha de Silva said. “We are happy that the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom is here again.”
Actg. Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Harsha de Silva, received today Members of German-South -Asia Parliamentary Friendship Group at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who were on an official tour from 6-9 April 2016 in Sri Lanka. The delegation comprised of parliamentarians representing the Social Democratic Party and the Christian Democratic Union.
Mr. Mano Tittawella has been appointed as the Secretary-General of the Secretariat for Coordinating Reconciliation Mechanisms. Mr. Tittawella has a distinguished record of dynamic public and private sector leadership at the highest levels.
The Consultations Task Force on Reconciliation Mechanisms, appointed by the Prime Minister, has opened online submissions in order to seek the views of stakeholders, experts and the general public on the design of the reconciliation mechanisms.
During his visit to Germany from 15 - 18 February 2016, President Maithripala Sirisena met Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel and German Federal President Joachim Gauck and had fruitful discussions to enhance the cooperation between the two countries in various fields. He also had bilateral discussions with Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Gerd Müller.
Sri Lanka and Germany have agreed to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries and promote development activities in Sri Lanka through German assistance. The two countries signed agreements on a wide range of cooperation that covers Education, Language, Museology, heritage and Art conservation, Higher Education, Sports. Improving access to information on the higher education systems in both countries, encouraging academic exchange in both directions, increasing the mobility of joint project partnerships between universities during the President’s visit of Germany.
President Maithripala Sirisena and Madam Jayanthi Sirisena arrived Tegel Airport in Berlin on 15 February 2016. They were welcomed at the airport by Mr.Jurgen Christian Mertens Chief of Protcol of the German Government.