Korea, SL to enhance ties

Chaminda Perera

The Korean Government yesterday said that it will enhance cooperative relations with the government of Sri Lanka in a number of areas particulary trade, health and power and energy sectors. He said that trade between the two countries exceeded US$ 300 million last year.

According to Korean envoy in Sri Lanka Choi Jong Moon, the number of Sri Lankans seeking employment in Korea would definitely be increased by the Korean government in due course.

He recognized the services of Sri Lankan expatriate workers in Korea for the uplift of the Korean economy. He said that most Sri Lankans in Korea can communicate fairly in English and that is an advantage.

The Korean envoy in Sri Lanka made these remarks at the announcement of 4th Korean language speech test organized by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) to enhance Korean language proficiency among Sri Lankans and help forge closer cultural exchanges between the two countries at the Foundation Institute on Friday.

This Korean language speech test would be held on October 29 from 12 noon to 6 p.m. at the Ananda College's Kularathna Hall. This is a separate event from the Korean Language qualification test (EPS TOPIK) for Sri Lankan workers who seek jobs in Korea. The ambassador said that the Korean government has also focused on Sri Lankans who do not return to Sri Lanka after the termination of their contract period.

Moon said that expatriate workers come, earn money and leave korea.

"We are discussing with the Sri Lankan Foreign Employment authorities over this matter," he said.

The envoy added that the highest number of foreign expatriate workers in Korea are from Vietnam and followed by Sri Lanka.

KOICA Sri Lanka representative Cho Sang Woo said that Korea has provided grants and technical cooperation to the tune of US $ 72 million up to last year in the areas of vocational training and infrastructure development under the KOICA.

He said that more than 600 KOICA volunteers have served in different parts of the country . "We will focus on human resources development in Sri Lanka by offering more than 14 training programmes to be held in Korea.

He said that KOICA is deploying more than 75 volunteers this year.

Korean embassy and KOICA officials in Colombo participated.