Germany praises new orientation in Sri Lanka

President Maithripala Sirisena with the Speaker of the German Parliament (Bundestag) Norbert Lammert

Speaker of the German Parliament (Bundestag) Norbert Lammert said that the 8 January 2015 verdict given by the people of Sri Lanka had given the country a new orientation as the Government of President Maithripala Sirisena has taken effective steps to strengthen democracy and improve human rights and reconciliation.

The Chairman of the German Parliament made this statement when he called on President Sirisena at the President’s residence in Colombo yesterday.

The President warmly received Lammert and his delegation and said that during his discussions with Chancellor Merkel in Berlin last year a strong foundation had been laid for further expansion of bilateral cooperation. He pointed out that following the visit, the German Minister of Economic Affairs and a group of potential investors visited Sri Lanka.

Chairman Lammert congratulated the President for strengthening democratic institutions through the 19th Amendment to the Constitution and expressed the fullest support for his endeavour for reconciliation through constitutional changes.

The delegation of the German Bundestag included Michael Rimmel, Frau Saskia and Frau Gelsomiana. Ambassador John Rhode also was present during the meeting.