Tension in Korean Peninsular:

Contingency plans ready for Lankans' safety

Rasika Somarathna

Even though it is business as usual in South Korea despite a declaration of war by North Korea, Sri Lanka is taking no chances and has prepared a contingency plan to ensure the safety of its nearly 26,000 strong migrant labour force in case trouble erupts, Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Minister Dilan Perera said.

Despite North Korea warning foreigners in South Korea on Tuesday to leave the country because they were at risk in the event of conflict, reports from South Korea suggest that this is highly unlikely, he added.

However, the Minister said, authorities in Sri Lanka in partnership with their counterparts in South Korea has drawn up plans to evacuate the country's workers to safe locations in case of a war situation in the region.

The Minister noted his officials were in close consultaion with the Lankan embassy in Seoul, Korean authorities and the International Organization for Migration.

Minister Perera added that no Sri Lankan worker in South Korea has signified intention to leave because of the tension, so far.

Infact, the Minister said that the Korean labour Ministry has informed in writing recently, that plans were afoot to provide jobs for candidates who still remain in the waiting list after obtaining the necessary qualifications in 2010 and 2011.

Also the Minister said that no decision has been taken to stop sending workers to South Korea. Infact a batch of Sri Lankan workers departed for South Korea a few days back. Meanwhile foriegn news agencies said that South Korea continues to assure foreign diplomatic missions that it is capable of protecting the country and ensuring the safety of foreigners there.

Also no country has yet attempted to withdraw their diplomatic missions from South Korea.

News reports from Seoul said that the situation in South Korea remains normal and indications suggest that there is no imminent threat.

Observers describe North Korea's latest warning as the latest in a long line of provocative statements that has not transformed into action.