He made these remarks when he met President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday (Feb. 18) in Berlin.

Before this meeting two MoUs were signed to enhance the economic and technical cooperation between Germany and Sri Lanka. Accordingly, Germany will provide a donation of 18million Euros to Sri Lanka. Under this grant 6 million Euros will be provided for the support of National Park and Buffer Zone Management of Wilpatthu while 4 million Euros will be provided for the Vocational Training in North of Sri Lanka.

Funds will also be granted for the Small and Medium Enterprises Sector Development and for the facilitation for initiatives for Social Cohesion and Transformation in Sri Lanka.

A MoU with the German Association for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (BVMV) on Small and Medium Enterprise Sector Development signed and it covers the area of technical capacity development in the apparel sector in specific areas such as: management techniques, fashion changes, capacity consuming etc. involves technical skill development, technology transfer, using IT platforms, market research, multidisciplinary studies in the apparel sector.

It aims at improving Export opportunities for Small and Medium Industries Products, Fist, Ayurveda, Herbal, Electronics, Floriculture products, ICT, leather, seafood, beverage etc.

The Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade Mr. Malik Samarawickrama signed on behalf of Sri Lanka.

“Specially, the assistance of the Germany is expected to promote the agriculture, fisheries and tourism industries of the country”, the President said.

During the discussions, the President requested Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development to provide assistance to develop the field of animal husbandry.

Expressing his consent to the requests made by the President the Minister also promised to provide assistance in uplifting transport facilities in the country.

The Minister further expressed his confidence over getting the GSP plus facility given to Sri Lanka in the future. He also said that he will visit to Sri Lanka in next May with a group of high level German investors.

The Minister commended the steps taken by the President to unify the two major political parties in the task of developing the country, adding that those initiatives are exemplary to Germany as well.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Dagmar Wöhrl, Chairwoman of the Committee for Economic Cooperation and Development of the German Parliament also called on President Maithripala Sirisena, today.

Mrs. Dagmar Wöhrl said that during her recent visit to Sri Lanka she witnessed the current ground situation in the country and plans to visit Sri Lanka again in the future to discuss the ways to further promote development cooperation between the two countries.

(president.gov.lk)