Sixty years of Sri Lanka-German diplomatic relations and SL Independence Day celebrated

The Honorary Consul of Sri Lanka for Rhineland-Palatia, Nihal S. Samarasinha, organised an event to celebrate 60 Years of Diplomatic Relations between Sri Lanka and Germany and the 66th Independence Day of Sri Lanka with a reception and commercial exhibition organised in cooperation with the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Berlin.

The Honorary Consul presided over the event. The Sri Lankan Ambassador, Sarrath Kongahage, and the Mayor of Mainz-Bodenheim, Thomas Becker-Theilig, were the guests of honour on the occasion. More than 450 persons including Sri Lankan expatriates and business personalities attended the event.

The event commenced with the lighting of the traditional oil lamp followed by the reading of the National Day Message of President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Sinhala and Tamil and German.

Sri Lanka's business organizations had organised an exhibition showcasing their products. There were stalls with Sri Lanka tea, gemstones and herbs. Sri Lankan Airlines and the Sri Lanka Business Council were present at the event.

Addressing the gathering, the Ambassador briefed the business Honorary Consul of Sri Lanka for Rhineland-Palatia, Nihal S. Samarasinha community from Rhineland-Palatia of Germany about potential for investment and trade with Sri Lanka. He explained about the skilled workforce, the strategic geographical location, infrastructure, the banking system and investor friendly regulations, which included protection of foreign direct investment under the Constitution of Sri Lanka.

The Ambassador said that the number of tourists from Germany to Sri Lanka, had increased and it has a tremendous scope for investment.

The guests were served with a Sri Lankan buffet and pure Ceylon tea. There was a raffle draw for an Airline ticket to Sri Lanka at a special price.