Germany’s head of state has postponed a planned trip to Sri Lanka after recent anti-Muslim violence led to the declaration of a state of emergency on the island.
The Federal President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, had planned to travel to India and Sri Lanka from the 21st - 28th March.
Sources in Berlin say the Sri Lanka leg of the trip, which was initially planned after accepting an invitation from the Sri Lankan president, Maithripala Sirisena, has been cancelled due to the recent unrest caused by anti-Muslim violence in Kandy and other parts of the island.
The German president was due to have political meetings, the trip was also due to focus on bilateral economic relations, medical projects and vocational training with plans also in place to meet civil society individuals involved in reconciliation and conflict resolution.
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