Calling on Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees Friday (23) evening, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea Woonjin Jeong called Sri Lanka “one of the safest countries,” and said he is actively encouraging Korean investors to explore opportunities in Sri Lanka.

Several decades ago, Korea was one of the largest investors in Sri Lanka. Currently, there are more than 115 Korean companies operating in the country, and total trade between the two countries stood at US$ 327 million last year. Both countries are keen on increasing that number.

Ambassador Jeong also congratulated the Prime Minister on the victory in the recently-held General Election and said it was “trust and confidence” that resulted in the mandate the Government received. He also commended the Government on its handling of the pandemic and said the Korean Government would be providing tangible support to Sri Lanka in coping with the COVID-19 crisis.

The two delegations discussed a number of priorities for further cooperation between Sri Lanka and Korea that included FDIs, exports, tourism and migrant workers.

Prime Minister Rajapaksa recalled the phone call with Korean Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun earlier this week and renewed his invitation for the Korean Prime Minister to make his first ever visit to Sri Lanka.

Noting that the Korean Prime Minister is keen on visiting Sri Lanka, Ambassador Jeong said, “We are and will always be close friends.”