Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Employment Mr. G.S. Withanage and Dr. Götz Schmidt-Bremme, Ambassador for the 2017-2018 GFMD Co-Chairmanship of Germany today (27th June), signed a Joint Declaration of Intent on principles of fair recruitment of personnel for training as geriatric nurses in the Federal Republic of Germany. The signing ceremony took place at the German Federal Foreign Ministry in Berlin, during Secretary Mr. Withange’s visit to Berlin leading the Government of Sri Lanka delegation to the 10th Meeting of the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) hosted by the Government of Germany.
Ambassador Schmidt-Bremme, expressing his satisfaction that the Agreement could be concluded following a very brief consultation said that it was a sign of enhanced cooperation for the future. Thanking the Government of Germany for providing the opportunity for Sri Lankan health sector professionals to work and live in Germany through this programme, Mr. Withanage said that it will be a win-win situation for both countries and will be a path to further strengthen the relations between the two countries.
The Agreement envisages training to commence in Sri Lanka from 2018 and the trainees will be provided with a comprehensive German language training (B2 level) and the professional training in the Geriatric care on par with the requisite standards in Germany with the assurance of working and integrating in Germany.
The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Berlin and the Permanent Mission in Geneva coordinated with the Foreign Employment Ministry in getting this Agreement off the ground from an initial stalemate due to the pressing priorities faced by Germany due to the European migration crisis. Ambassador of Sri Lanka in Berlin Mr. Karunatilake Amunugama, the Deputy Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to UN in Geneva Mrs. Samantha Jaysuriya, the General Manager of the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau Mr. Devseth Fernando, Additional General Manager (International Affairs ) Mr. W.M.. Wansekera, and the Third Secretary of the Sri Lanka Embassy in Berlin Mr. Gamini Wijayarathna joined the event, while senior officials of the Federal Foreign Office joined Mr. Sebastian Damm, Policy Officer for Immigration Law and Migration, Ms. Katharina Bosch, Senior Policy Advisor for Migration Issues, Global Forum on Migration and Development and Dr. Gerhard Almer, First Counsellor of the South Asia Division.
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Berlin
29 June 2017
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