April 4, 2024
Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and Lee Cheol Woo, Governor of Gyeongsangbuk-du Province of the People’s Republic of South Korea.
During a meeting, the Governor of Gyeongsangbuk-du Province of the People’s Republic of South Korea, Lee Cheol Woo, met with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena. The two parties discussed various topics, including potential investment projects and cooperation in education, higher education, agriculture, fisheries, women’s development, and rural development. The meeting resulted in agreements to provide 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. Additionally, the parties discussed possible investments in health and construction sectors, new technology for the fisheries sector, consultancy on post-harvest damage mitigation, direct and indirect provision for women empowerment activities, and the possibility of short-term provision of human resources required in Korea only for the harvesting season.
During the event, the Prime Minister expressed his gratitude towards Governor Lee Cheol Woo for providing an opportunity to visit a successful story of new economic growth in the province. The PM mentioned that the cooperation that has been extended to other countries by Saemaul Foundation and this important voluntary organization, with the blessings of the Governor, many under developed areas of Sri Lanka has benefited, especially Kegalle and Ratnapura in Sabaragamuwa Province has had a very close cooperation for the improvement of education. I am glad that Governor himself visited Sri Lanka and signed this proposal for the welfare of these rural populations. 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.
Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe conveys his warm greetings which, I am honored 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 the Parliament. So it is a very important visit and an event for Sri Lanka.”
