To mark the 10th anniversary of the Sri Lanka - Germany Forum and 27 Th Lane Business Hub Pvt Ltd , a discussion was held with His Excellency Ambassador Dr. Felix Neumann at the Embassy on 10th February. The meeting was attended by Suneth Wijesinghe, Founder of the Forum. He was accompanied by Mr. Lal Hettiarachchi, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Agency (SLFEA), and Senior Professor Wasantha Subasinghe, Vice Chancellor of the Gampaha Wickramarachchi University of Indigenous Medicine.

 

The discussions focused on providing employment opportunities in Germany for Sri Lankan nursing professionals and on teaching Ayurveda to German nationals in Sri Lanka.

 

Dr. Neumann emphasised the importance of nursing professionals completing their German language studies up to the B2 level in Sri Lanka to meet the requirements of new job placements that the Forum will undertake in collaboration with the SLFEA. This includes German language courses incorporating practical and preparatory training based on the German syllabus to enhance candidates’ working knowledge of the German healthcare sector.

 

The Forum also plans to establish an Ayurveda Academy to teach traditional Sri Lankan Ayurveda through its collaborators in Germany. This initiative aims to bring together German and Sri Lankan Ayurveda practitioners and followers, strengthen the presence of Sri Lanka’s identity in Germany, and promote Ayurveda wellness tourism.

 

The Forum was the first to showcase Sri Lankan SMEs at Berlin International Green Week in 2019 in collaboration with HNB. Since 2021, it has also facilitated the employment of nursing professionals in Germany, with over 45 nurses and their families now settled there.