Ambassador Dr. Mendis addressing the large gathering, as the Chief Guest, at the Maha Council for Supporting Migrants of Jogye Order at Dongguk University in Seoul

The Maha Council for Supporting Migrant Workers in the Republic of Korea under the patronage of Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism hosted a mega event to express appreciation to the large number of migrant workers employed and working in the Republic of Korea. Accordingly, there are approximately two million non-Koreans live and work in the Republic of Korea. At this high profile event held at Dongguk University in Seoul was attended by well over 3,000 migrant workers from a number of countries including from Sri Lanka. 

The Ambassador of Sri Lanka, Dr. A. Saj U. Mendis, was the Chief Guest at the event which consisted mainly migrant sending Asian countries such as Bangladesh, Nepal, Mongolia, China, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, amongst others.  There were over 500 Sri Lankan migrant workers were present at this event organized by the highly respected Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. The event consisted of a number of performances, talent shows and events and a number of athletic events, amongst others. Each country competed and vied at these friendly competitions and performances, thus lasting well over eight hours. 

The event titled as “Uwolim Hanmadang” was attended by the monks of the highest order and rank of Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism and other dignitaries including senior officials of Ministry of Labor of Korea.  Ambassador Dr. Mendis, in his remarks as the Chief Guest, stated that nearly 30,000 Sri Lankan nationals are employed in Korea, particularly, in sectors such as manufacturing, construction and fisheries.  He also accentuate the fact that most of the Sri Lankan migrants who work in Korea are happy of the environment and well assimilated to the society at large and they remit large quantum of funds back to Sri Lanka.  Ambassador Dr. Mendis underline the vitality of the migrant workers not only in Korea but also around the world stating that they are the largest foreign exchange earners for the country. He also added that Sri Lanka is today the Chairperson of Abu Dhabi Dialogue known as ADD which consists a number of labor sending and labor receiving countries. The key objectives of ADD are to address the compelling issues and challenges of migrant workers, negotiate and intercede on their well-being and intrinsic rights and train and equip the migrant workers to be more competitive and to enhance their existing skills and knowledge to be semi-skilled to highly skilled, amongst others.

Dr. Mendis expressed gratitude to the Government of the Republic of Korea for extending an affable and genial ambiance to a large number of Sri Lankan migrant workers as well as to other Asian countries, who were present at this mega event. The key monks of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism commended and appreciated all the migrant workers including Sri Lankan migrant workers for their contribution and pro-active role extended in the development of the country. Today, the Chief Monk added, the Republic of Korea has emerged as the fourth largest economy in Asia and the eleventh largest in the world.  This is despite the fact that the Republic of Korea was one of the poorer countries in Asia just five decades ago. The Chief Monk enunciated the fact that the migrants, primarily from Asia, had played a seminal and critical role in the socio-economic advancement of the nation.

Republic of Korea

8^th October 2019

A large number of Sri Lankan migrant workers as well as other nationalities from Asia are present at the Opening Ceremony whilst the Chief Guest, Ambassador Dr. Mendis, addressing the gathering at the Dongguk University in Seoul