Germany will be a reliable partner of Sri Lankan people: Foreign Minister

Kilinochchi: Germany is ready to assist Sri Lanka to deal with its painful past and open a fresh chapter in the history of the country, visiting German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said.

Speaking at the inauguration of the German Vocational Training Institute in Kilinochchi on Tuesday, Steinmeier said Sri Lankans were taking important steps towards reconciliation after long and bitter years of civil war and the task required a lot of hard work and patience and assured his Government’s assistance to the people.

“As someone who is coming from a country with a past that is difficult to master, I can imagine how difficult a task is lying ahead of you,” he said.

“This will require a lot of hard work, a lot of patience. Please be assured: On this path, Germany will continue to be a reliable partner of the people of Sri Lanka - no matter whether they live in Kilinochchi or in Colombo.”

“We are ready to do what we can to help you deal with Sri Lanka’s painful past and to open a fresh chapter in the history of your country,” the visiting Minister assured.

Speaking to the students of the new Sri Lanka-German Training Institute, Minister Steinmeier said that they not only had the chance to lay the foundations for their future careers and personal future at the institute but also to build a better future for their country.

Adding that Vocational Training has proved a huge success in Germany, the Minister said the two countries had joined forces to strengthen Sri Lanka’s vocational training sector. Noting that Vocational Training, especially in Sri Lanka’s North and East - the regions that were particularly affected by the war – was already well underway, Steinmeier said that this was an encouraging signal of hope for a better future.

He encouraged students to make full use of what will be offered to them at the new training institute.

“We all know there will be hard work ahead of you until you hold your certificates in your hands. But the training you receive here will offer you a unique opportunity, for a good future for yourselves, your families and your country,” he said.