Ambassador Karunatilaka Amunugama presented his letter of credence to the President of the Swiss Confederation, Simonetta Sommaruga at the Federal Palace in Bern on 24th of March 2015.
During his interaction with President Sommaruga, Ambassador Amunugama conveyed the warm best wishes from President Maithripala Sirisena and briefed her on the policies and vision of the new Government in Sri Lanka.
While congratulating President Maithripala Sirisena and his new Government, President Sommaruga stated that her Government is keen to work closely with the new Government and the recent visit by Federal Foreign Minister, Dr.Didier Burkhalter to Sri Lanka was an indication of the commitment of the Swiss Government to strengthen the bilateral relations.
Federal President Sommaruga assured Ambassador Amunugama, her Government's fullest cooperation to enhance bilateral relations during his tenure of office.
The President further said that her country looks forward to the forthcoming visits by Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister to Switzerland and expressed hope that the visit by the Head of the bilateral Economic Division of the State Secretariat of Swiss Economic Corporation (SECO), Ambassador Livia Leu to Sri Lanka in the near future to explore new opportunities, would pave the way for closer economic and trade cooperation between two countries.
Ambassador Amunugama conveyed Sri Lanka's interest in enhancing trade and economic relations, including receiving more Swiss investments and pointed out that many Swiss companies have currently invested in diverse areas such as cement production, agriculture, gems & jewellery, textiles, tourism and electronics in Sri Lanka.
The Ambassador appreciated contribution of the Swiss agency for Development Cooperation (SDC) in Sri Lanka, in reconstruction and sustainable development, in the aftermath of the defeat of terrorism for improving the living standards of the people for 2015, SDC has allocated CHF 7 million for Sri Lanka.
Ambassador Amunugama called for the Swiss Government's support for vocational and technical skills development in Sri Lanka, including training trainers in the hospitality sector.
The Ambassador also met the Deputy State Secretary, Georges Martin, Assistant State Secretary for Asia-Pacific, Directorate of Political Affairs, Ambassador Johannes Matyassy, of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and the Head of the bilateral Economic Division and Delegate of the Division of the State Secretariat of Swiss Economic Cooperation(SECO) Ambassador Livia Leu and other senior officials of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Swiss Confederation, during his visit to Bern.
Ambassador Amunugama also met the Swiss media as well as the Chairman /Sri Lanka Committee of the Swiss-Asian Chamber of Commerce Mark Dangel and expatriate Sri Lankan community in Zurich.
Ambassador Amunugama was accompanied on his visit to Bern by the Deputy Chief of the Mission, Chaminda Colonne of the Sri Lanka Embassy in Berlin.
Sri Lanka Embassy
Berlin
30th March 2015
