German FM in Sri Lanka, talks on economic cooperation and Technical Institute in North

[Godman]

Germany can utilize Sri Lanka’s skilled labour force: Foreign Minister | Lanka Business Online

Sep 22, 2015 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister said more German companies should invest in Sri Lanka and take advantage of the islands skilled labour force and regional ties, during the visit of his German counterpart.

“Now that Volkswagen is in, other German companies are taking an interest in Sri Lanka,” Mangala Samaraweera, Minister of Foreign Affairs said.

“We would also like to encourage other German firms, including those from the Mittelstand, to take advantage of Sri Lanka’s skilled labour force.”

“Improving governance and ready access to emerging markets along the Indian Ocean rim, including India and Pakistan, with whom Sri Lanka has free trade agreements, is also another advantage,” he said.

The Minister made these comments while addressing media together with German counterpart Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeir.

German based automobile manufacturer Volkswagen recently signed an agreement to invest 30 million US dollars to set up a vehicle assembly plant in Sri Lanka.

Germany is Sri Lanka’s fifth largest export market, accounting for nearly five percent of our exports. Last year our total exports were 824 million US dollars.

“Our target is for trade turnover to cross the 1 billion US dollar mark within the next few years,” the minister said.

“We look forward to regular high level interactions at all levels which will certainly pave the way for a more robust German – Sri Lanka relationship which will benefit our countries and our peoples.”

There are several areas in which Germany has agreed to assist Sri Lanka in building local capacity and sharing experiences.

“I would particularly like to highlight their contribution towards vocational training and skills development,”

“The German Technical Training Institute in Kilinochchi which the Minister hopes to visit this afternoon will be a tremendous boon to the youth of the North and Eastern Provinces,”

“The institute in Katubedda established nearly three decades ago has similarly hugely benefited young people of the South.”

 

[Godman]

A Technical Training Institute funded by Germany is to be set in Kilinochchi,visiting German Foreign minister Dr Frank -Walter Steinmeire said today. He was addressing the media after meeting with Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera. He explained that they are in the process of constructing the center in Kilinochchi that he would be visiting the place during his stay in Sri Lanka. He said that Germany has provided technical training in the past and therefore hopes to continue it’s assistance. Dr Stenimeire explained that they will foster and further develop on economic cooperation while trying to lend a support to the younger generation. He also said that they will also provide assistance on cultural conservation of the Secret Temple of Tooth in Kanday. - See more at: German Technical Institute in North. | Sunday Times

 

[Godman]

Sri Lanka : Germany agrees to take lead in EU to revive GSP+ concession to Sri Lanka
Tue, Sep 22, 2015, 07:31 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

Sept 22, Colombo: German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has said that Germany would lead the European Union to revive the GSP+ Relief to Sri Lanka.

The German Foreign Minister, who is on an official visit to Sri Lanka, said that he would take action on that regard, in coordination with the Foreign Ministry of Sri Lanka, when he called on President Maithripala Sirisena Tuesday at the Presidential Secretariat.

President Sirisena, commending the cooperation of Germany extended to Sri Lanka for a long time, said that maintaining a good association with every country in world is the foreign policy of Sri Lanka's new government.

The President thanking for the vocational training center, being built in Kilinochchi with financial assistance of Germany, said that Sri Lanka is now a country which uses high standards technology in health sector and requested assistance for the development of the technical skills for health activities.

The President told the visiting Minister that ensuring democracy and reconciliation is the course of his government and the government is committed to ensure the freedom of judiciary.

The German Foreign Minister expressed the satisfaction of the government of Germany on the program carried out by the Sri Lankan government to ensure democracy and achieve reconciliation.

The President, who invited German investors to Sri Lanka, promised to provide required facilities to them.

Mr. Steinmeier conveyed the invitation of German Chancellor Angela Merkel for President Sirisena to visit Germany. The President accepted the invitation.

Deputy Foreign Minister Dr. Harsha de Silva and German Ambassador in Sri Lanka Dr. Jürgen Morhard also participated in this occasion.

 

[Imran Khan]

i hate germany after every damn deal they start same old tune of human rights

 

[Gibbs]

i hate germany after every damn deal they start same old tune of human rights

The problem mate is the damage is already done by the previous regime in bungling the issue and completely screwing up diplomatically for the UN and the EU to interfere.. Now the option is damage control and get the most out of it for the country.. Without further compromising the sovereignty.. If not the country will be in more dire straits

 

[Imran Khan]

The problem mate is the damage is already done by the previous regime in bungling the issue and completely screwing up diplomatically for the UN and the EU to interfere.. Now the option is damage control and get the most out of it for the country.. Without further compromising the sovereignty.. If not the country will be in more dire straits

what they have problem go damn they have massacre a whole EU and suddenly become saint and start dictate world ?

 

[Gibbs]

what they have problem go damn they have massacre a whole EU and suddenly become saint and start dictate world ?

Neo liberal BS.. I find it hypocritical.. They suffer from a white mans burden, Especially the Germans and Scandinavians

 

[Imran Khan]

Neo liberal BS.. I find it hypocritical.. They suffer from a white mans burden, Especially the Germans and Scandinavians

at this point i can see so many eastern countries not in favor of any bis deal with Germany specially after Saudi tank deal cancel .we also were looking for subs but deal went down .

 

[Saradiel]

The problem mate is the damage is already done by the previous regime in bungling the issue and completely screwing up diplomatically for the UN and the EU to interfere

That is a lie men. I am not a fan of how MR handled that issue. He messed it up. But still MR is far far better than what is happening now.

UNPers have been spreading a BIG lie that MR agreed to an investigation bla bla..but that is an utter lie...MR's administration has never agreed to such a thing.
That is just a blame game....

 

[Gibbs]

That is a lie men. I am not a fan of how MR handled that issue. He messed it up. But still MR is far far better than what is happening now.

UNPers have been spreading a BIG lie that MR agreed to an investigation bla bla..but that is an utter lie...MR's administration has never agreed to such a thing.
That is just a blame game....

So whats happening now ? The govt categorically rejected foreign intervention to the investigations yesterday, Hybrid or not.. So what else do you want them to do ?

What would MR have done ? Get on a stage and scream blue bloody murder and it's a foreign conspiracy to kill war heroes and divide the country ? Well he did that for the last so many years.. Did it help the situation by any means ?

Now dont tell us that Rajiva Wijetunga and Gomin Dayasiri are pro western, separatists.. All the fear mongering cultivated by the MR regime specially with this massive propaganda that the US has this agenda in the division of the country is exposed by these two gentlemen... Ignore the the two NGO activist but listen to what these two have to say and the exposure of the utter incompetence of the previous regime on completely fecking this up grand style

Oh btw this is what the man himself says about the US role in it.. Now i'm not defending the US or say they dont have ulterior motives of cause they do, But this whole propaganda by Lemon puff munching pseudo patriots is nothing but a good laugh..

From the horses mouth itself.. In his vain attempt to exonerate himself

While there may have been tensions between my government and some Western nations at certain times, there were Western leaders who understood our point of view as well. John Kerry when he was the head of the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations wrote in his December 2009 report titled ‘Sri Lanka: Re-charting US Strategy after the War’ that the Obama administration should take a broader multi-dimensional approach to Sri Lanka not driven solely by short-term humanitarian concerns but involving political, economic, and security dimensions.

During the war, Sri Lanka and the USA had a mutually helpful exchange of information on security matters. Republican administrations in the USA generally took a less intrusive approach to Sri Lanka.

MR urges Govt. to reject the report by the OHCHR