.jpg) Sri Lankan Minister of Mass Media Lakshman Yapa Abeywardana, left, talks with Korea Times President-Publisher Park Moojong, center, during a courtesy call to Park’s office in central Seoul, Monday. Sri Lankan Ambassador to Seoul Asitha Perera is seated at right. Minister Abeywardana is part of Sri Lankan delegates to Korea to foster ties between the two nations. The delegates leave Seoul today. / Korea Times Photo by Shim Hyun-chul |
By Michael Ha
Staff Reporter
A Sri Lankan minister expressed gratitude for Korea's help in rebuilding efforts of the South Asian country which was hit by a tsunami in 2004.
``The message we would like to give to the Korean people is `kamsa-hamnida,' for what Korea has done for us after the tsunami tragedy,'' said Sri Lankan Minister of Mass Media Lakshman Yapa Abeywardana.
``We remember with gratitude what Koreans have done for us after the tsunami, especially in the southern part of Sri Lanka,'' he said in an interview with The Korea Times, Monday.
Abeywardana was part of government delegates from Sri Lanka seeking further economic and diplomatic cooperation with South Korea.
Minister Abeywardana visited The Korea Times along with other delegates, including Minister of Nation Building A.P. Jagath Pushpakumara, and Sri Lankan Ambassador to Korea Asitha Perera.
Sri Lanka, which suffered devastating losses from the tsunami, has been successfully rebuilding its cities. The tsunami killed over 40,000 people in that country.
The delegates asked Korean businesses to invest more in Sri Lanka and participate in reconstruction work.
``We are very grateful to the Korean government for the assistance they have provided. After the tsunami, the South Korean government has helped build hospitals and bridges,'' Ambassador Perera said.
He said the Sri Lankans would like to repay Koreans' help and further strengthen the two countries' relationship though economic cooperation.
``Now, we have a $300 million construction project that has been awarded to Koreans. In time to come, it is our intention also to get Korea involved in the oil-exploration, which is taking place in the west coast area of Sri Lanka. This would be mutually beneficial to both countries,'' he said.
``Korea is also involved in a number of infrastructure projects in Sri Lanka. Roads and bridge construction, and also the Korean government has given a large grant for a construction of a government administration complex and a convention center.''
Minister Abeywardana also said economic ties can further develop with the use of the Sri Lankan workforce in Korea. `` We have more than 15,000 Sri Lankan migrant workers in South Korea and that number will rise. We are also trying to train them better for Korean companies.''
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