Sri Lanka FM meets German Foreign Minister; extends invitation to visit Sri Lanka

May 23, 2015 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera on Friday met German Foreign Minister Dr. Frank Walter Steinmeier at the German foreign office in Berlin and extended an invitation to visit Sri Lanka, the Foreign Ministry said. “Our immediate priority is to reset the investment climate by making Sri Lanka a secure, efficient and competitive investment destination in South Asia,” Samaraweera said. “We have re-established the independence of the judiciary and we are in the process of creating a rule based system where all companies will enjoy a level-playing field,” “We are making our economy more efficient through smarter regulations. Efficiency will also be improved through the reviving of a one stop investment shop.” Samaraweera stressed. Sri Lanka is a gateway to the broader Indian Ocean region and to India and Pakistan, especially through the Free Trade Agreements. Sri Lanka also climbed 11 places on the Tourism Competitiveness Index this year. Over 100,000 German tourists visited Sri Lanka last year. “As we embrace the world again we hope this number will increase. But we are also putting things right at home.” Samaraweera said. Germany and Sri Lanka have had diplomatic relations for 62 years.