Maha Council for Supporting Migrants and Jogye Order invites Sri Lankan Ambassador for mega event

Ambassador Dr. Mendis addressing the large gathering as 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 hosted a mega event under the patronage of Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism to express appreciation for the approximately two million migrant workers employed in the Republic of Korea. 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 Sri Lanka. 

The Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Republic of Korea Dr. A. Saj U. Mendis was the Chief Guest at the event. There were over 500 Sri Lankan migrant workers present, as well as migrants from countries such as Bangladesh, Nepal, Mongolia, China, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, among others. The event, that lasted well over eight hours, featured a number of performances, talent shows and friendly athletic competitions wherein all countries participated. 

Titled ‘Uwolim Hanmadang’, the event was attended by monks of the highest order and rank of the highly-respected Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, as well as other dignitaries including senior officials from the Korean Ministry of Labour. Ambassador Mendis, in his remarks, stated that nearly 30,000 Sri Lankan nationals are employed in Korea, particularly in sectors such as manufacturing, construction and fisheries. He accentuated the fact that most Sri Lankan migrants who work in Korea are happy with the environment and well-assimilated into the society at large, remitting a large quantity of funds back to Sri Lanka. Ambassador Mendis underlined 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 added that Sri Lanka is today the Chair of the Abu Dhabi Dialogue (ADD) which comprises a number of labour sending and receiving countries. The key objectives of the ADD are to address compelling issues and challenges of migrant workers, negotiate and intercede on their well-being and intrinsic rights, train and equip the migrant workers to be more competitive, and enhance their existing skills and knowledge from semi-skilled to highly skilled, amongst others. 

Dr. Mendis expressed gratitude to the Government of the Republic of Korea for creating an affable and genial ambiance for a large number of both Sri Lankan and other Asian migrant workers present at this mega event. 

The key monks of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism commended and appreciated all the migrant workers for their contribution and proactive role in the development of the country. The Chief Monk added that the Republic of Korea has emerged as the fourth largest economy in Asia and the eleventh largest in the world, despite the fact that the Republic of Korea was one of the poorer countries in Asia just five decades ago. The Chief Monk reiterated the fact that the migrants, primarily from Asia, had played a seminal and critical role in the socio-economic advancement of the nation.