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| Saturday, 4 October 2003 |
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"South Korea renders yeoman service to Sri Lanka" South Korea renders yeoman service to Sri Lanka, states V. K. J. Ramanayake, Vice President, Sri Lanka-Korea Friendship Association. He said it was the Sri Lanka-Korea Friendship Association, that was responsible for the establishment of early friendly relationship with South Korea. Our efforts to establish diplomatic ties with a prosperous South Korea resulted in that country becoming the largest foreign investor. They have invested in Sri Lanka 350 million US Dollars in 145 projects. The product exports of these firms account for 10% of our total exports annually. These projects have generated employment for 66,000 Sri Lankans. There are 1,200 Korean expatriates living in Sri Lanka and they constitute the highest expatriate population in Sri Lanka. The great South Korean builder, Kengnam & Co, who were responsible for building the Baseline road, Super highway, has built two high rise residential Towers at Rajagiriya with about 240 luxury apartments, swimming pool, Gym, Tennis Courts, Children's Playground, Super Market and a Restaurant. Many Koreans are resident here. We have to thank South Korean Ambassador Lee Nam Soo, KOICA Director, and the embassy staff for the cordial relations with our Society to strengthen the cultural ties between the two nations. Korean Cultural Centre Our Society is to make a proposal to the Ambassador, to establish a "Korean Cultural Centre," in Colombo, by leasing a building or constructing one like the Japanese Cultural Centre the "Sasakawa Trust" building a donation by a Japanese shipping magnate. Such Centers have been established by the American Embassy, British High Commission, Germany, Russia, India, Iran, Indonesia, France etc in Colombo. They are popular meeting places for cultural exchanges, friendship with Sri Lankans, holding language classes, dramas, cultural exhibits, libraries, sports activities, martial arts etc. As South Korea has the largest expatriate population, this is an urgent need and should be done on leased out building like the German and Russian, until donors could be found from South Korea, to build one 6,000 sq.ft. building. We are thankful to South Korea for providing new employment avenues and technical training facilities in that country for Sri Lankan youth. We understand that over 3,000 youth are being trained and that many who acquire sufficient skills will obtain employment in that country. We are also thankful for the useful contributions made by KOICA for the economic prosperity in Sri Lanka by their projects in various parts of the country and the services of their Volunteers working in the field and factories. We are very happy to note the economic recovery of South Korea, after the disastrous Asian Economic crises a few years ago, and we very sincerely wish them prosperity, he states. |
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