President Anura Kumara Dissanayake returned to the island this morning following the conclusion of his successful official visit to Germany, the President’s first since assuming office.
The President and his delegation arrived at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) at 08:58 a.m. aboard a flight from Doha, Qatar, according to Ada Derana.
The visit, which began on June 11, was undertaken at the invitation of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who welcomed President Dissanayake with a ceremonial Guard of Honour at Bellevue Palace in Berlin.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the visit featured bilateral political meetings, a business roundtable, and engagements with Germany’s tourism sector.
Strengthening Bilateral Ties and Economic Cooperation
During bilateral talks, the two Presidents discussed enhancing the cordial Sri Lanka–Germany relationship, with a focus on emerging economic opportunities, particularly in vocational training and tourism.
President Dissanayake also briefed President Steinmeier on Sri Lanka’s recent economic stabilization and reconciliation efforts, as well as future policy directions.
High-level discussions were also held with:
-
German Foreign Minister Dr. Johann Wadephul, focusing on bilateral exchanges, German investment, GSP+ trade benefits, and multilateral cooperation.
-
German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Reem Alabali-Radovan, where the President expressed gratitude for over 65 years of German development assistance, including projects like the Friendship Maternity Hospital in Galle and the German Technical Training Institute in Kilinochchi.
Further discussions explored future development projects, particularly in expanding vocational education and training opportunities.
Promoting Investment and Tourism
The President addressed a business forum organized by the Sri Lankan Embassy in Berlin, in collaboration with the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) and the German Asia-Pacific Business Association (OAV). He emphasized Sri Lanka’s commitment to ensuring a transparent and investor-friendly climate and invited German businesses to leverage Sri Lanka’s strategic location and development potential.
In a meeting with leading German tourism industry associations, President Dissanayake highlighted government plans to safeguard the sustainable nature of tourism and address challenges such as human resource development to drive future growth in the sector.
Meanwhile, Dr. Thomas Steffen, State Secretary of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, held discussions with Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath, covering Sri Lanka’s economic progress, political stability, and efforts to improve its investment environment.
The President was accompanied by:
-
Minister Vijitha Herath
-
Ambassador to Germany Varuni Muthukumarana
-
Sugeeshwara Gunaratna, Director General for Europe and North America
-
Arjuna Herath, Chairman of the Board of Investment
-
Other senior government officials
The visit marked a significant step in strengthening economic, political, and development cooperation between Sri Lanka and Germany.
