The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, on behalf of the Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, I table the answer.

¶ 02 Answer tabled:

¶ 03 (a) (i) From 11 to 13 June 2025, H.E. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake undertook an official visit to Germany. Benefits include: - Boosting confidence in Sri Lanka’s economic and investment climate by presenting progress on economic stabilization and debt restructuring. - Positive spillover on EU relations through discussions and cooperation with Germany, a key EU member. - Promoting Sri Lanka to Germany, Europe’s largest market and Sri Lanka’s 4th largest export destination (exports in 2024: USD 628 million). Opportunity to brief German companies, trade partners and prospective investors; about 160 German companies already operate in Sri Lanka. - Clarifying to the German Government Sri Lanka’s post-2024 political stability, anti-corruption stance, rule-of-law strengthening and good governance measures. - Meeting with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier; both sides focused on strengthening bilateral ties and leveraging emerging economic opportunities in vocational training and tourism. German support was affirmed for measures to stabilize Sri Lanka’s economy. - Meeting with German Foreign Minister Dr. Johann David Wadephul to elevate bilateral ties, economic stabilization, German investments, EU GSP+ and UN cooperation. - Meeting with German Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Reem Alabali-Radovan, to draw attention to expanding vocational training opportunities for Sri Lankans.

¶ 04 Economic outcomes: - On 13 June 2025, the President addressed a business forum in Berlin organized with the German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) and the German Asia-Pacific Business Association (OAV), attended by: 1. German companies already investing in Sri Lanka 2. Prospective German investors 3. German state development institutions (e.g., GIZ, DENA) 4. Representatives of DIHK and OAV The President invited German businesses to invest in Sri Lanka, assuring facilitation and security for investments.

¶ 05 - Tourism cooperation focus areas: - Human capital strengthening (e.g., German-speaking tour guides) - Service quality and infrastructure (e.g., premium rail services, online seat reservation systems) - Senior/retiree tourism, including interest in longer-term visas for German retirees - CSR and environmentally friendly tourism

¶ 06 Key results: 1. Several German companies already in Sri Lanka expressed intent to expand in tyres and hospitality. 2. Prospective investors indicated interest in new sectors such as IT, education, training and hospitality; Sri Lanka positioned as an attractive destination and opportunities were developed. 3. Broader German business community recognition of Sri Lanka as a potential market. 4. Encouragement to explore investment opportunities in Sri Lanka. 5. Identification of sectors with investment potential: renewable energy, tourism, logistics/supply services, ports, IT and digital services. 6. Opportunities for Sri Lanka’s TVET sector to collaborate with German firms in services, electromechanical and computing systems and hospitality. 7. At a meeting between the Sri Lankan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism and Germany’s State Secretary Thomas Stephan (Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action), discussions covered Sri Lanka’s recent economic progress, improved political stability, efforts to create an investor-friendly environment, and enhancing cooperation in renewable energy, agri-tech, automotive industry, medical technology and vocational training.

¶ 07 - Tourism industry feedback: 1. Inputs on promoting Sri Lanka in the German market 2. Involving local communities in tourism development 3. Developing value-added luxury tourism for high-end travelers 4. Enhancing vocational training opportunities

¶ 08 (ii) Expenditure: Rs. 2,533,748.91 (Annexure placed in the Library). (iii) Head of State met: H.E. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, President of Germany. In addition, meetings were held with Foreign Minister Dr. Johann David Wadephul, Minister Reem Alabali-Radovan, and State Secretary Dr. Thomas Stephan.

¶ 09 (b) Not applicable.