2nd Lead (Adds details)

German Minister meets with TRO officials

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 February 2005, 06:15 GMT]
German Economic Cooperation and Development Minister Ms. Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul who is currently in Sri Lanka on a fact finding visit to see the tsunami damages met with Director of Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) Colombo office, Mr Chandru Pararajasingham, at the Pan Asia Hotel, Monday, TRO officials in Colombo said. TRO is an NGO registered with Government of Sri Lanka and works exclusively in the NorthEast.

German Embassy officials, Dr Ingolf Dietrich and Arnulf Buraun, accompanied the Minister to the meeting. TRO Program Director Siva Subramaniam also attended the discussions.

Ms Wieczorek-Zeul was keen to learn about various reconstruction efforts currently underway throughout the affected areas as well as upcoming projects yet to be implemented by TRO.

Mr Pararajasingham thanked the Minister for the German Government's generous contributions to the tsunami affected people of the North-East of Sri Lanka and briefed the Minister on the current projects TRO is carrying out in the region. He also outlined TRO's plans for the long term resettlement and relief efforts, officials attending the meeting told TamilNet.

Born on 21 November 1942 in Frankfurt, Main, Ms Wieczorek-Zeul studied English and history at the University of Frankfurt between 1961 and 1965. She taught at the Friedrich Ebert school at Ruesselsheim till 1974. From 1977 to 1979 she was the chairperson of the European coordination office of the international youth federations. She served as a member of the European parliament from 1979 to 1987. She holds the post as federal minister for economic co-operation and development from 27 October 1998.