A special meeting was held today – on Wednesday, 22 July 2026, at the Governor’s Secretariat between the Hon. Governor of the Northern Province, N. Vethanayahan, and a German expert delegation to discuss ongoing projects and new investment opportunities in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province. The initiatives are being implemented with funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development through the German Asia-Pacific Business Association in collaboration with local partners.
The meeting was attended by Dr. Roland Strohmeyer, Project Manager of sequa gGmbH; Kathrin Sielicke, International Expert from Kasoma Consulting; representatives of the Northern Province Chamber of Industries; and representatives of the Women’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce, who are among the local project partners.
Discussions focused on the current progress and evaluation of capacity-building programmes and mentoring initiatives being implemented with the support of the German Government for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), in partnership with local stakeholders, including the Northern Province Chamber of Industries.
Addressing the meeting, Hon. Governor N. Vethanayahan stated:
“Before the war, many factories operating in the North provided employment to tens of thousands of people. However, those industries were completely destroyed by the conflict and no longer exist today. We warmly welcome new investments to revive our province’s economy and create employment opportunities.”
The Governor also highlighted the Government’s special focus on the development of the Northern Province, stating:
“The Government plans to establish new investment zones in the Northern Province to stimulate economic growth. At the same time, it remains firmly committed to encouraging small and medium-sized enterprises and providing them with the infrastructure and support they require.”
The German delegation sought the Governor’s views on the current investment climate in the Northern Province, available opportunities, and the needs of local industries. They also discussed their continued cooperation in supporting the region’s future economic development initiatives.
