The Hon. Governor of the Northern Province, N. Vethanayahan, has made a special request to the French and German Ambassadors to Sri Lanka to take appropriate measures to curb the sale of counterfeit products manufactured in other countries using the names of locations in the Northern Province and various European countries.
The Governor pointed out that, in the future, when the unique local products of the Northern Province are exported to European markets, the presence of such counterfeit goods—already established in those markets—will pose a significant challenge to the province’s economy.
The request was made during an official visit to the Northern Province by the French Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Rémi Lambert, and the German Ambassador, Felix Neumann, who met with the Governor for discussions. The meeting was held at the Jetwing Hotel in Jaffna on Monday night (23 February 2026). The Secretary to the Governor, S. Saththiyaseelan, was also in attendance.
During the meeting, the ambassadors shared with the Governor detailed insights into the long-standing cultural and trade relations between Sri Lanka and France and Germany.
Particular attention was given to the development of the tourism sector in the Northern Province. The Governor provided comprehensive responses to the ambassadors’ questions on strategies to attract tourists visiting Southern Sri Lanka to the North. Noting that the travel time between the North and the South remains lengthy, the ambassadors observed that reducing travel time would be essential to drawing more visitors to the region and inquired about possible expressway plans.
In response, the Governor briefed them on ongoing and proposed transport infrastructure improvements, the development of local air services, and the province’s future tourism development plans.
The ambassadors also inquired about the working relationship between the Northern Provincial Administration and the Central Government, as well as the status of the Provincial Council elections. Responding to a question on whether procedures have been simplified in light of the strong interest shown by the Tamil diaspora in investing in the North, the Governor assured them that the current government is strongly encouraging investments and that all necessary avenues have been opened for this purpose, enabling diaspora investors to proceed with confidence. The Governor further briefed the ambassadors on the ongoing development projects at the Jaffna International Airport in Palaly and the Kankesanthurai Port, emphasizing their strategic importance to the economic advancement of the Northern Province.
The progress of women and children in the Northern Province was also discussed during the meeting. The ambassadors noted that they have prioritized the Northern Province in their respective national plans for this year, with the French Government placing particular emphasis on the advancement and welfare of women and children in the region. They further inquired about the current status of projects being implemented in the North under the auspices of the French and German governments, and the Governor provided a detailed briefing on the progress of those initiatives.
