Korea grants US $ 15 million for next three years: envoy

The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) held KOICA night at the Korean Ambassadors' residence in Colombo.

Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Lim Jae Hong said that Korea was committed to provide US $ 15 million grant and US $ 20 - 25 million in soft loans to Sri Lanka over the next three years.

He said that the Korea immediately mobilised relief materials and equipment and delivered them to Sri Lanka by military aircraft and vessel soon after tsunami struct Sri Lanka.

"This was the first time the Korean government used military vehicles for the purpose of delivering relief materials abroad. The initiate amount of assistance in this form was US $ 1.3 million".

KOICA, took active parts in relief operations in Sri Lanka by dispatching medical teams, disaster management teams, rescue workers, divers and volunteers, the ambassador said.

Ambassador Lim Jae Hong briefly outlining the pledges of KOICA for the year 2005 said that KOICA is inviting 50 trainees from Sri Lanka for 30 courses and will dispatch 100 volunteers including 40 new recruits.

KOICA is also dispatching an oriental medical doctor since 2002 and a Taekwondo instructor since 1997 and an expert in the field of weather forecasting for a period of six months for this year.

"KOICA will also embark on several projects such as the Feasibility Studies of Anuradhapura-Paradeniya Road Rehabilitation Project, Katunayaka-Anuradhapura Road Rehabilitation Project, upgrading of the Jaffna Technical College as a College of Technology, and constructing classrooms for the Zahira College, Kegalle."

He added that through all these activities Korea is contributing to Sri Lanka's sustainable development.

Extending his best wishes to the Association of KOICA Fellows of Sri Lanka which comprises trainees who visited Korea for Training Program he added "The friendship between our two countries will become stronger and mutually beneficial and continue to flourish in the coming years."

KOICA Executive Director Kim Joong-Geun who visited Lanka recently to conduct a feasibility survey to recognise how Korea could support Lanka in the tsunami rehabilitation efforts also spoke at the event.

"On my visit to Matara and Hambantota the sceneries and people alongside the road on my way back to Colombo today make me feel similarity and brotherhood between Korea and Sri Lanka. I found Lankans are rising from the hardships and poverty of the past, Kim Joong-Geun said.

He outlined KOICA's immediate contribution on tsunami rehabilitation process and attempts to uplift Human resources Development as well.

The Association of KOICA Fellows in Sri Lanka President B. H. Passaperuma admired the enormous assistance Lanka received from KOICA.

"We were able to obtain a large volume of technical assistance extended by KOICA in the form of Training Facilities, Equipment, Technical/Vocational and Language Training Centers, Development studies, services of Experts, medical doctors and of KOICA Volunteers", he said.