Helping Hands from Germany: Discover over 400 German funded projects in Sri Lanka

Enlarge image Ambassador Ploetner with Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris (© German Embassy Colombo) Launching germanyhelpinghands.lk to showcase German public and private projects implemented across the island in the last 50 years.

COLOMBO, May 5, 2011- Did you know that the Mahaweli-Randenigala Dam, which provides electricity to Colombo was developed in 1982 with German government funding?

A website germanyhelpinghands.lk which showcases over 450 such projects worth over Rs. 75 billion implemented across the island over the past half a century with funding from the German government and private donors was launched yesterday by the German Ambassodor to Sri Lanka Jens Ploetner in the presence of Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris.

Enlarge image Ambassador Ploetner showing the projects of GermanyHelpingHands to Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris (© German Embassy Colombo)

The website provides an interactive map that allows the public to view where German funded projects have been carried out, which public or private entity in Germany had funded them, the cost of each project and the local partner that implemented it. It aims to raise awareness about economic and humanitarian funding originating from Germany to Sri Lanka.

The German Technical Training Institute or “German Tech” in Moratuwa, that has trained thousands of technicians for 50 years, stands as the most widely known symbol of German public assistance to Sri Lanka. But little is known about a wide array of small and medium scale humanitarian and economic corporation projects funded by private individuals or organizations in Germany.

“Germany has been one of Sri Lanka’s long standing friends funding major infrastructure projects and providing humanitarian assistance. But what is special about this website is that it highlights hundreds of projects initiated and financed by Geman citizens without any kind of government support. This shows the very special bond of friendship between Germans and Sri Lankans.” Ambassodor Ploetner said, recalling the wave of generosity that poured fourth from the German public after the tsunami. “Germany is not a fair weather friend. We have been consistent in our support for the people of Sri Lanka, as shown by this solid track record of our assistance.”

If you are aware of a “hardware” project that we have missed, please contact us via the website germanyhelpinghands.lk