Sri Lanka and Germany are looking to further strengthen their longstanding friendship by expanding cooperation in key sectors, including trade, investment, tourism and education.
Minister of Labour Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando made these remarks while attending a reception in Colombo (26) to mark Germany’s National Unity Day.
Extending greetings on behalf of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the government and the people of Sri Lanka to the President, Government and people of Germany, Minister Fernando highlighted the significance of German Unity Day, which commemorates the country’s reunification in 1990.
Diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and Germany were established in 1953. Since then, bilateral cooperation has expanded across political, economic, educational, cultural and development sectors.
Germany is Sri Lanka’s fourth-largest export market, with the value of Sri Lankan exports to Germany exceeding US$700 million in 2025. More than 160 German companies are also operating in Sri Lanka, the Minister noted.
Highlighting cooperation in tourism, Dr. Fernando said that 147,966 German tourists visited Sri Lanka in 2025, making Germany the country’s fourth-largest tourism source market.
He also appreciated Germany’s support for education and vocational training, highlighting the important role played by the Ceylon-German Technical Training Institute, commonly known as German Tech, in developing Sri Lanka’s technical workforce.
Expressing gratitude for Germany’s assistance following Cyclone Ditwah, the Minister also emphasised the importance of strengthening parliamentary ties, cultural exchanges and people-to-people connections between the two countries.
More than 120,000 Sri Lankans living in Germany contribute to strengthening the social and cultural ties between the two nations, it was noted.
Minister Fernando reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s continued commitment to expanding economic cooperation with Germany, fostering closer relations between the two peoples and creating new opportunities for bilateral partnerships.
