A large number of jobs will be available for Sri Lankan youths this year as a result of the discussions held by Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena with his Korean counterpart, Han Duck Soo in Seoul and with Governor of Gyeongsangbuk-du Province, Lee Cheol Woo in Andong.
In addition to the labour force that provides jobs for agriculture, construction and other industries in his country, the Korean Prime Minister also mentioned the possibility of providing new jobs for health services and professional services.
Governor of Gyeongsangbuk-du Lee Cheol Woo agreed to provide employment to Sri Lankan workers under a short-term provision of human resources required in Korea only for the harvesting season. This is in addition to the skilled workers and professionals employed in Korea. There are currently over 20,000 Sri Lankans employed in Korea.
Premier Gunawardena thanked the Korean Prime Minister for assistance provided during the recent economic crisis and Premier Han Duck Soo said that his country, as a member of the Paris Club, will always stand to support Sri Lanka and congratulate the Sri Lankan government for its achievement of recovering from the recent financial crisis, to successfully carry out its future activities.
Sri Lanka expressed appreciation to the Government and the people of Korea for the assistance extended during the Covid-19 pandemic and acknowledged with appreciation the higher education opportunities and training programs provided for Sri Lankans through the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Korean Official Development Assistance (ODA) and other institutions.
Prime Minister Han Duck Soo, while discussing Korean investments, requested Sri Lanka to take measures to reduce the time for the preliminary work for the future projects to be implemented. He assured Premier Gunawardena that the currently agreed projects in the areas of renewable energy, fisheries sector and joint investment areas will be implemented expeditiously. The Korean Prime Minister stressed the importance of further increasing the space for floating solar power installations.
Two Prime Ministers agreed to explore the huge potential for collaboration in the tourism sector. The Korean Prime Minister added that the Korean people are also very interested in visiting Sri Lanka and expressed his agreement to support the provision of more opportunities to visit Sri Lanka, which is one of the most attractive tourist destinations in the world.
When Prime Minister Gunawardena was holding the portfolio of the Minister of Education, the move to include the Korean Language as a subject in the curriculum was praised by the Korean Prime Minister.
During the talks with Governor of Gyeongsangbuk-du Province, Lee Cheol Woo in Andong, the Provincial Government agreed to offer many benefits for education and higher education, agriculture, fisheries, women and rural development in Sri Lanka. They also discussed the potential for launching investment projects too.
The agreements were reached on providing more smart classrooms for schools, information technology equipment for vocational training institutes for school leavers who do not enrol for higher education, increasing opportunities for university entrance, increasing scholarship opportunities and providing more employment opportunities in Korea for Sri Lankans.
Premier Gunawardena discussed with the Governor possible investments in health, construction sectors, new technology for fisheries sector, providing consultancy on post-harvest damage mitigation, direct and indirect provision for women empowerment activities.
Governor of Gyeongsangbuk-du Lee Cheol Woo recalled his visit to Sri Lanka last year to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between leading Korean philanthropic institution, the Saemaul Foundation which is based in his province and Sri Lanka
Saemaul Undong (SU), the New Village Movement (or “SU movement,” as it is often referred to), was a government-oriented Community-Driven Development (CDD) program pursued during the 1970s in the Republic of Korea. Ultimately, this was the key program in the country’s long-term economic development initiative implemented during the latter half of the 20th century.
Under the MoU signed with Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government, and External Resource Department, Ministry of Finance, the Saemaul Foundation, launched the Digital Saemaul initiative in Sri Lanka. Five schools were selected in the Sabaragamuwa and Central Provinces to develop smart classrooms and completed the classrooms with 150 Nos. of computers with tables and chairs, 10 Nos. of smart boards and 10 Nos. of printers, worth more than 36.5 million as a donation. Five Schools, Gampola St. Joseph’s Balika Maha Vidyalaya, Kandy District, Central Province, Namini Oya Central Collage, Matale District, Central Province, Ginigathhena Central Collage, Nuwara Eliya District, Central Province, Amb/ Godakawela Kularathna Vidyalaya, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Ke/ Ranwala Mahanaga Vidyalaya, Kegalle District, Sabaragamuwa Province received completed Smart Classrooms under this program.
The Saemaul Smart Classroom Handover Ceremony took place under the patronage of the Prime Minister at Temple trees. The event was attended by Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, Miyon Lee, Education Minister Susil Premajayatha, State Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government, Janka Wakkumbura, State Minister, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ashoka Priyantha, Governor of Sabaragamuwa Province, Naveen Dissanayake, Governor of Central Province, Lalith U. Gamage, Member of Parliament Yadamini Gunawradena and Principals and students.
Prime Minister Gunawardena said, “I would like to thank the Governor for giving us this opportunity for visiting a very success story of new economic growth that has been led in this province. The cooperation that has been extended to other countries by Saemaul Foundation with the blessings of the Governor has benefited, especially Kegalle and Ratnapura in the Sabaragamuwa Province.”
The Prime Minister said, “I am glad that Governor himself visited Sri Lanka and signed this proposal for the welfare of these rural populations. And now it is in the implementation stages for which, we once again would like to thank you and the Saemaul Foundation for taking an initiative in these specific areas and we look forward to taking it further.”
“President Ranil Wickremesinghe conveys his warm greetings which, I am honoured to mention here because we look forward to working with Korea closely on new technology and new investments applicable to many areas today. We hope this cooperation can be strengthened and taken forward for which I as the Prime Minister is visiting your province along with Members of Parliament.”
