H.E. the Ambassador Sarrath Kongahage met with Mr. Dieter Fritsche, State Secretary of Interior Ministry of Federal Republic of Germany, at the Federal Ministry of Interior on 24.10.2012.
During the meeting, the Ambassador stated that Sri Lanka enjoys its third year of peace and stability after the defeat of terrorism, and significant progress has been accomplished with regard to the rehabilitation, reconciliation and the resettlement programme in the North and East Provinces.
H.E the Ambassador also briefed the State Secretary with regard to the rehabilitation of Ex-LTTE combatants that eleven thousand five hundred Ex-LTTE combatants out of twelve thousand surrendered or in the custody of the state have been reunited with their families after rehabilitation and the rest will be reunited once the vocational training courses they are following completed.
H.E the Ambassador further stated that the terrorist activities of the LTTE have ended in Sri Lanka but the remnants of the LTTE, many of whom escaped from Sri Lankan soil, are actively functioning in European countries and trying to sabotage the painstakingly achieved peace in Sri Lanka.
H.E the Ambassador detailed the Secretary with regard to the LTTE administered schools in Germany which are called 'Thamulalayam'. These Schools are functioning under the pretext of teaching Tamil language but in reality they are very closely associated with the LTTE. The curriculum of these schools contains the belief of separate Eelam, encouraging the act of terrorism and glorifying suicide attacks. These concepts would brainwash the young children in a subtle way.
In response, the State Secretary stated that the Federal Government of Germany considers the LTTE as a terrorist organization and the Federal Interior Ministry is always vigilant and closely observing their activities in Germany.
During the Meeting, H.E the Ambassador made a request to the Secretary to visit Sri Lanka and presented with best tea bags of Sri Lanka.
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Berlin, Germany.
29. Oktober 2012