Ambassador Amunugama met State Secretary Markus Ederer at the Federal Foreign Office today (23rd Feb.2015) to brief him on steps that have been taken by the current Government to establish good governance, national reconciliation as well as strengthening democratic institutions and rule of law in Sri Lanka. In reply, State Secretary Ederer stated that the positive developments in Sri Lanka were observed keenly by the German Government.
State Secretary Ederer conveyed that his Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, Ambassador Peter Prügel, would be visiting Sri Lanka in the beginning of next month and expressed his confidence that Ambassador Prügel's visit to Sri Lanka would open a new era in bilateral relations. He furthermore added that his Government looks forward to work with the new Government via technical cooperation and many other fields and is awaiting the recommendations of Ambassador Prügel after his forthcoming visit to Sri Lanka.
Ambassador Amunugama also mentioned the invitation extended to Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera by German Federal Foreign Minister Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, which has been accepted by the Sri Lankan Minister. State Secretary Ederer said that he would brief his Minister on the new developments and look for an early date to receive the Sri Lankan Minister.
Ambassador Amunugama further stated that the issues pertaining to two German Political Foundations, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF) and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES), have been resolved and there is no impediment for the said foundations to continue to work in Sri Lanka. While acknowledging the long-standing service provided by the two foundations in promoting relations between the two countries in a wide range of fields, Ambassador Amunugama invited the German foundations to re-commence their activities at the earliest.
Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific Ambassador Peter Prügel, Desk Officer for Sri Lanka Fabian Richter of the Federal Foreign Office, Deputy Chief of Mission Chaminda Colonne and First Secretary R. Kohularangan of the Sri Lankan Embassy also participated in the discussions.
23rd February 2015
Sri Lanka Embassy
Berlin