Foreign jobs: Revival of cooperation between S.Korea-Sri Lanka discussed

COLOMBO: Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena held discussions concerning the revival of foreign employment cooperation between Sri Lanka and South Korea with the Korean Ambassador in Sri Lanka Woonjin Jeong at the Foreign Ministry.

Gunawardena appreciating South Korea’s partnership in providing employment opportunities for Sri Lankan nationals in South Korea.

The foreign minister also sought the assistance of the South Korean government to recommence receiving new employees from Sri Lanka which has been temporarily suspended due to the COVID-19 outbreak in Sri Lanka and South Korea.

Foreign Minister Gunawardena conveyed that despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, the Sri Lankan Government is ready to fulfil the health and other related requirements in collaboration with South Korean authorities with a view to recommencing the employment flow from Sri Lanka to Korea at the earliest.

Ambassador Jeong said the Sri Lankan employees have contributed immensely to the socio-economic development of South Korea and expressed his fullest cooperation to overcome challenges and deepen mutual cooperation between the two countries in the field of foreign employment.

State Minister of Foreign Employment Promotion and Market Diversification Piyankara Jayaratne, Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment Chairman Kamal Ratwatte and senior officials of the State Ministry of Foreign Employment Promotion and Market Diversification and the Foreign Ministry were also present at the meeting.