All-female Sri Lankan delegation visits Germany

Recently an all-female delegation from Sri Lanka participated in the Guest Program of the Federal Republic of Germany. The 5-day visit focused on women’s rights, reconciliation, and the culture of remembrance. The high ranking Sri Lankan delegation led by Justice and Prison Reforms Minister Thalatha Atukorale, and also included Mayor of Colombo Rosy Senanayake, Human Rights Commission Chairperson Dr Deepika Udagama and Commissioner Ambika Satkunanathan, OMP Commissioner Dr. Nimalka Fernando, Centre for Equality and Justice Executive Director Shyamala Gomez, human rights activist Shreen Saroor from Mannar Women's Development Federation (MWDF) and Editor of the Sunday Observer Newspaper renowned journalist Dharisha Bastians. 

During their visit to Germany, the Sri Lankan delegation group met with the Vice President of the German Parliament (Bundestag) Thomas Oppermann and as well with German female MPs from different political parties. The discussions with the MPs focused on ways to increase female representation, among other topics. 

The group visited also the Ostholfen Concentration Camp Memorial, which is now operated by the Regional Centre for Civic Education of Rhineland-Palatinate, and held discussions with the head of the Centre Bernhard Kukatzki and the Director of the Memorial Uwe Bader, on reconciliation and the culture of remembrance. The delegation also held talks with President of the Constitutional Court of Rhineland-Palatinate, Dr Lars Brocker, and Vice President Dr Dagmar Wünsch, when they visited the Constitutional Court. This was followed by a dinner with the Vice President of the Parliament of Rhineland-Palatinate Astrid Schmitt, where the discussions were focused on the subject of women in houses of Parliament. On 26th June, the delegation met with the President of the Confederation of Business Associations of Rhineland-Palatinate Dr Gerhard Braun to exchange thoughts on women's participation in the business world, and afterwards with the Deputy Director of the German Institute for Human Rights Michael Windfuhr. 

The latter part of the program consisted of meetings with Member of the German Bundestag and Parliamentary State Secretary Rita Hagl-Kehl (SPD) and thereafter the delegation had the opportunity to visit the Federal Foundation for the Study of the Communist Dictatorship in Germany where they received a comprehensive presentation about the foundation. 

On 31 July, Ambassador Rohde and his wife Sonia Lapointe hosted a luncheon at his residence where the participants of the Guest Program joined him to share their insights and experiences.