11/05/2010
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TamilNet
A delegation of German MPs led by Ms. Petra Ernstberger visited Jaffna accompanied by German Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Mr. Jens Ploetner and Mr. Guido Baumann, officer in charge of press affairs. Mr. Guido Bauman, at the end of the visit Thursday, told local press that the delegation saw no development worthy of mention in Jaffna. He added that the main intention of the delegation was to find out how the German tax payers’ money given as donation is being used in Jaffna peninsula. Mr. Holger Ortel, Mr. Jurgen Kilmke and Dr. Birgit Reinemund were the three German other parliamentarians besides Ms. Petra Ernstberger visiting Jaffna.
11/05/2010
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Daily News
German MPs impressed by Jaffna's unique beauty
The delegation of German MPs currently in Sri Lanka, headed to the North after a meeting with the Northern Province Governor Major General G A Chandrasiri. In the North, they visited the Cheddikulam Hospital which received financial assistance from the German Red Cross (DRK) and Menik Farm, where some of the projects had been funded by the German Organization, Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund ASB.
Their visit besides included the Agromart (WHH) Resettlement project in Punkuditivu to which recovery assistance has been given for resettled families in Northern Sri Lanka by the German Federal Government. The delegates were warmly received by the Archbishop of Jaffna the Most Rev Dr Thomas Savundranayagam and Jaffna Urban Council Mayor Yogeswari Patgunarajah.
Germany on its part spends $ 15 million per year on resettlement and demining in the North.
The delegation in the meantime was very impressed by the unique beauty of the Jaffna peninsula. They noted that Jaffna has a huge potential to become an exciting destination for both Sri Lankan and foreign tourists. A prerequisite for this however is that travel restrictions for foreign tourists to the North must be removed.
02/09/2010
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The Guardian (UK)
An education project funded by the German government is trying to help communities divided by civil war to express mutual respect and understanding in a new language. Psyche Kennett, the project's coordinator, explains how this kind of English language training can reduce hostility