Ten students from St. Thomas College, Mt. Lavinia are presently in Germany on a three-week study tour organized by Mr. Manfred Moeller, Teacher and Coordinating Director of Gymnasium Isernhagen. The Gymnasium Isernhagen, a high school in Hannover, has been engaging in an annual student exchange program with St. Thomas College in Mount Lavinia and Ladies College in Colombo since 1995.
In return, 32 German students from Gymnasium Isernhagen are scheduled to visit Sri Lanka next month. They will be staying with host parents and will attend a study program in the respective schools. They also intend to take visits to important places in Sri Lanka including Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage, Colombo Zoological Gardens and Peradeniya Botanical Gardens.
Students of Gymnasium Isernhagen holds concerts annually by themselves to raise funds for charity work in rural parts of Sri Lanka.
Ambassador Karunatilaka Amunugama organized an event at his residence to welcome this year's Sri Lankan exchange students and also invited German students and Sri Lankan students studying in Germany, which provided an opportunity for an interaction. The lively discussions were followed by a dinner.
The Ambassador appreciated the efforts by Mr. Manfred Moeller of the Gymnasium Isernhagen school for the continued exchange program, which provides the opportunity to exchange ideas in a spirit of peace, mutual respect and understanding among the younger generation, which is fundamental to improve better relations and strengthen peace and harmony among the nations.
