Germany to take lead in EU to revive GSP+ relief to Sri Lanka: Visiting Foreign Minister

German Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinmeier has assured his country would lead the European Union to revive the GSP+ relief to Sri Lanka. 

The Foreign Minister who is on an official visit in Sri Lanka stated that he would take action on that regard, in coordination with the Foreign Ministry of Sri Lanka.

Steinmeier made these remarks when he called on President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday at the Presidential Secretariat.

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

He also expressed thanks for the vocational training centre being built in Kilinochchi with German financial assistance. The President stating that Sri Lanka is now a country which uses high standards technology in health sector requested the assistance for the development of technical skills for health activities.

The President said ensuring democracy and reconciliation was the course of his Government. He also stated that the Government was committed to ensuring the freedom of the Judiciary. Sirisena, who invited German investors to Sri Lanka, promised to provide them the required facilities. 

The German Foreign Minister expressed the German Government’s satisfaction on the program carried out by the Sri Lankan Government to ensure democracy and achieve reconciliation.

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

Deputy Foreign Minister Harsha de Silva, Secretary to the Ministry Sivageeshwara and German Ambassador in Sri Lanka Dr. Jürgen Morhard also participated.