Korean Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport celebrates Sri Lanka’s vibrant economic 

exchange with the Republic of Korea at 69th Independence Celebrations in Seoul 

‘Located in the heart of the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka serves as a hub for maritime transport and a bridge between Asia and Europe’, said the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of the Republic of Korea Kang Hoin in his congratulatory remarks at the reception hosted by the Sri Lanka Embassy on 3rd February 2017 at the Millennium Seoul Hilton, to celebrate the 69th anniversary of independence and 40 years of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and the Republic of Korea. Minister Kang was the Chief Guest and representative of the Korean Government at the event which was also attended by Ministers and Members of Parliament of Sri Lanka, including Vice President and some Members of the  Sri Lanka – Korea Parliamentary Friendship Group in Sri Lanka; Members of the Korean National Assembly; Korean dignitaries and business leaders; and the diplomatic corps. 

In addition to important political relations, Minister Kang also referred to the vibrant bilateral economic exchange between Sri Lanka and the Republic of Korea since 1979 in the infrastructure construction field, which included Korea’s involvement in many important construction projects in Sri Lanka including the Colombo port expansion project.  Referring to the investment promotion drive of the Sri Lankan Government, Minister Kang expressed confidence that more Korean companies will find investment opportunities in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka’s Minister of Disaster Management Anura Priyadarshana Yapa; Minister of Public Administration and Management Ranjith Madduma Bandara; and Minister of Women and Child Affairs Chandrani Bandara attended the reception as Guests of Honour.  The Hony. Consul of Sri Lanka in Busan and CEO of Seun Steel Shin Jung Taek also attended while extending his support.

Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Manisha Gunasekera warmly welcomed Minister Kang, the Ministers from Sri Lanka, Members of Parliament of both Sri Lanka and the Republic of Korea, as well as all dignitaries who attended the reception.  She also referred to the further strengthening of bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and the Republic of Korea with special attention to political and economic cooperation including labour relations in 2017, which also marks the 40th anniversary year of Sri Lanka - Korea diplomatic relations.  Minster Kang and Sri Lanka’s Ambassador looked forward to collaboration under the Western Region Megapolis Plan which has opened a new and important chapter in economic cooperation between Sri Lanka

and the Republic of Korea, within the framework of the MOU signed in May 2016 in Seoul between Minister Kang and Sri Lanka’s Minister of Megapolis and Western Development Patali Champika Ranawaka. 

Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, who was the Guest of Honour of the Sri Lankan Government, welcomed more Korean investment in Sri Lanka and proposed a toast for the continuing friendship and strengthening of relations between Sri Lanka and the Republic of Korea.

The reception also included the display of Ceylon Tea, spa products as well as baseballs manufactured by a Korean company in Sri Lanka and exported to the US and Korea for professional league baseball.  The celebration also included a unique rendering of traditional Sri Lankan music on violin, cello and flute composed by Sri Lankan composer-musician Lalanath de Silva, by violinist Heejeon Anh, cellist Eugene Oh with Lalanath de Silva.