On Wednesday (10), Ambassador Miyon Lee of South Korea paid a visit to Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena in Colombo, aimed at deliberating on the implementation of decisions made during the Sri Lankan Premier’s recent visit to South Korea.
During his stay in South Korea, Prime Minister Gunawardena engaged in fruitful discussions with his counterpart, Han Duck-soo, as well as with Speaker of the National Assembly Kim Jin-pyo, Governor of Gyengsangbuk-do Province Lee Cheol-woo, and former Secretary-General of the United Nations and current President and Chair of the Green Growth Institute, Ban Ki-moon.
These bilateral dialogues led to a significant agreement from South Korea to enhance its support to Sri Lanka across various sectors, including education, health, renewable energy, employment, agriculture, and rural development.
Responding to Prime Minister Gunawardena’s request, South Korea has committed to providing smart classrooms to 1,000 schools in Sri Lanka, thereby aiding the government’s initiatives in advancing information technology education at the grassroots level.
Moreover, South Korea will dispatch doctors and medical teams for short-term medical missions at government hospitals, facilitating knowledge exchange and collaboration with Sri Lankan medical professionals.
Ambassador Lee affirmed her country’s dedication to initiating new development projects in Sri Lanka, alongside ensuring the timely completion of ongoing endeavors. Notably, South Korea has already implemented three projects focusing on water treatment, sanitation, sewage disposal systems, and dry zone agriculture. Additionally, a pilot project in renewable energy will soon be underway with the installation of floating solar panels on Chandrika Wewa in Ratnapura District.
Furthermore, South Korean authorities have consented to augment the employment opportunities for Sri Lankan workers, encompassing both skilled/professional sectors and seasonal agriculture.
Expressing gratitude, Prime Minister Gunawardena extended appreciation to the South Korean government for their outstanding cooperation and warm hospitality during his brief visit.
