A delegation from the South Asia Parliamentary Group of the German Bundestag engaged Sri Lankan lawmakers on parliamentary reforms, women’s political participation, youth involvement and efforts to build trust among ethnic and religious communities during an official visit to Parliament on 16 September.
The delegation, led by German MP Nicklas Kappe and comprising MPs Gerold Otten, Johann Saathoff and Ulle Schauws, was received by Deputy Speaker Dr. Rizvi Salih, who hosted a luncheon with members of the Sri Lanka–Germany Parliamentary Friendship Association.
The delegation was accompanied by Chargé d’Affaires Sarah Hasselbarth, Staff Member of the Parliamentary Secretariat Katerina Bienert, and Senior Adviser-Political Affairs Dharini Daluwatte.
The discussions, attended by Friendship Association Chair and Minister Harshana Nanayakkara and other MPs, covered parliamentary procedures and the committee system, alongside the need to strengthen women’s political leadership and participation and encourage greater involvement of younger people in politics.
Participants also exchanged views on growing interest among young people in integrity and respect for the law.
The talks further touched on the resolution of ethnic and religious issues and the importance of building trust among communities, placing reconciliation and social cohesion alongside institutional and political participation.
Following the luncheon, the German delegation joined a joint roundtable with three Ministerial Consultative Committees and two Sectoral Oversight Committees, providing a more focused exchange on economic, infrastructure and strategic policy issues.
The participating bodies included the Ministerial Consultative Committees on Energy; Finance, Planning and Economic Development; and Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, as well as the Sectoral Oversight Committees on Economic Development and International Relations and Infrastructure and Strategic Development.
Sectoral Oversight Committee Chairpersons MPs Lakmali Hemachandra and S. M. Marikkar, together with other committee members, participated in the discussion.
The roundtable addressed areas identified by the German delegation, including waste management, water supply and treatment, power and energy, as well as wider economic and strategic development issues.
The engagement allowed both sides to exchange perspectives on the roles, activities and priorities of parliamentary committees, while providing an opportunity to share experiences on policy oversight and institutional processes.
The visit comes as part of efforts to deepen parliamentary-level engagement between Sri Lanka and Germany, with the discussions spanning governance, inclusion, reconciliation and sectoral development.
Parliament officials, including Acting Secretary General Hansa Abeyrathne and Director of Legislative Services M. Jayalath Perera, also participated in the engagements.
The Sri Lankan Parliament said the visit contributed to strengthening parliamentary dialogue, cooperation and mutual understanding between the two countries.