The Secretary General of the Intergovernmental Organization EDU, H.E. Irving Levance, was received today by H.E. Upali Sarrath Kongahage, the President of the Diplomatic Council, who is currently serving as an Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka to Germany.
The Veterans Cricket Club in Bonn, Germany, which is one of the oldest Sports Clubs among the Sri Lankan community in Germany, organized a Soft Ball and Hard Ball Cricket Tournament between several Sri Lankan Clubs and community groups across the landscape of the Federal Republic of Germany. The matches were played on 25th August 2012 at the American base ground in Bonn The Chief Guest of the event was H.E. the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Germany, Mr. Sarrath Kongahage, while the Consul General for Frankfurt, Mr. Pradeep Jayawardene, was the guest of honour.
On 17th August 2012, the President of the Diplomatic Council, an international think tank headquartered in The Hague, Ambassador Sarrath Kongahage hosted an Ambassador's Summer Reception in Berlin. Ambassadors from many countries based in Berlin and Members of the Diplomatic Council from throughout Germany participated in the reception.
On 19th August 2012, the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) of Germany opened its doors to the German public for an ''Open Day'' under the slogan of '' Developers of the Future'' in order to provide an opportunity to the German public to obtain comprehensive information in both the bilateral relations of Germany with the partner countries and the cultural specifics, typical characteristics and economical & tourism aspects of the partner countries.
The first Swiss-Sri Lankan Business and Investment Forum titled "Sri Lanka - A land of a thousand and one opportunities" was held on 11th - 12th June 2012 in Zurich and Geneva. It was organized by the Sri Lanka Embassy to Switzerland resident in Berlin, Germany, Swiss-Asian Chamber of Commerce, Geneva Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services and Business Network Switzerland with the support of Holcim Ltd. of Holcim Group and Credit Suisse. The successful forum attracted over 130 interested delegates and was jointly headed by H. E. The Ambassador Sarrath Kongahage and Consul General Pradip Jayewardene. Hon. Gamini Lokuge, Minister of Labour who was visiting Geneva, Mr. Mark Dengel, Chairman of Sri Lanka Committee of Swiss Asia Chamber of Commerce, members of the Chamber and officials from Sri Lanka participated in the forum.
Mr. Thomas Kriwat, Lawyer and Managing Director of Reederei Eugen Friederich, Bremen, as well as Managing Director of Mercantile Shipping Company plc, Colombo, has been appointed new Honorary Consul of Sri Lanka in Bremen with consular jurisdiction covering the States of Bremen and Lower Saxony. He follows his father, Captain Klaus Kriwat, who served as Honorary Consul for more than 20 years.
H.E. Sarrath Kongahage met with Dr. Harald Braun, State Secretary of the Federal Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany, at the Federal Foreign Office on 2nd August 2012.