Business
Winners of Korean language speech contest felicitated

On January 21 ambassador Santhush Woonjin Jeong had the pleasure to meet the winners of the Korean language speech contest and felicitate them at the Korean embassy. The ambassador offered congratulations to the winners and expressed his appreciation for their excellent skills in speaking Korean.
Due to the prevailing pandemic, the Korean language speech contest was held online last December as an event of “Korea Week”. The embassy of the Republic of Korea in Sri Lanka in collaboration with the Kandy King Sejong Institute Center successfully organized the Korean language speech contest and awards ceremony on a virtual platform.
On this occasion, the ambassador conveyed his deep appreciation for all the participants and the organizers of the Korean speech contest for their interest and commitment to further Korea- Sri Lanka ties amid the pandemic. “I believe that you are the bridge which connects Korea and Sri Lanka. Your interest and dedication to learn the Korean language is an example of our strong ties which have transcended national borders”.
The ambassador further stated that the year 2021 is a significant year for Korea-Sri Lanka bilateral relations. “From 2021, the Korean language is officially adopted as a foreign language for advanced level curriculum by the Ministry of Education in Sri Lanka. It will be a leap forward to elevate our cultural bilateral relations”. Further more the ambassador expressed the unwavering support and assistance of the government of Korea in the expansion of Korean-language education in Sri Lanka. Last year people to people exchanges were blocked by the pandemic, however the establishment of the King Sejong Institute has provided a great opportunity for the Sri Lankan public to learn and familiarize themselves with the Korean language and culture.
The Ambassador revealed that despite the differences of our two cultures we are united by the mutual respect and love shown to each other’s culture and language. He stated that “more Sri Lankan youth should be encouraged to learn the Korean language and become important assets to promote Korea-Sri Lanka friendship. I hope that friends from all walks of life in Sri Lanka will continue to work together to take our bilateral relations to another level and create a brighter future for our two countries. It is our strong belief that the student exchanges and cultural relations will keep strengthening and therefore will continue to make a greater contribution to consolidate our ties”.
The Ambassador elaborated that learning the Korean language would open the window to many job opportunities in Korea. The Korean government policy of “equal pay for equal work” has further elevated the engagement in labour cooperation in recent years. About 23,000 Sri Lankan employees are presently in Korea. Around 520 million US dollars were transmitted by them from Korea to Sri Lanka in 2019. The migrant workers bridge both countries in more ways than one, as they continue to contribute to the economic advancement of Korea and Sri Lanka.
The Ambassador also mentioned that the public health authorities in Sri Lanka have effectively implemented measures to battle Covid-19 here in Sri Lanka. Likewise the Korean authorities have taken aggressive anti-coronavirus efforts to combat and contain the pandemic. Many Sri Lankan workers live safely in Korea.
The Ambassador briefly touched upon the economic cooperation between Korean and Sri Lanka. He stated that “Korea is thankful to the international society including Sri Lanka for the support extended to Korea in the past. Now the time has come for Korea to repay by assisting Sri Lanka to achieve its development objectives. As a true friend, Korea would like to share the technological know-how and resources to help Sri Lanka achieve the so called Miracle on Kelani River like the Miracle on Han River”.
The Korean speech contest has successfully contributed to deepening the cultural ties between the two countries by providing recognition for the Sri Lankan youth who embark upon a new journey to broaden their future possibilities by learning Korean. The Korean Embassy will deepen and strengthen the Korea- Sri Lanka friendship in 2021 as well.
The following students of the Korean Speech Contest were awarded prizes by His Excellency Santhush Woonjin JEONG at the awards ceremony. Kulara Wickramarachchi, a medical student won the first place. Her parents received her award on her behalf. Dhananjaya Jayasinghe and Thanushi Rajapakse won the second place for their fluent Korean linguistic skills. The third award winners were Aheesha Dilshani Jabir and Gimhani Dikkumbura. All award winners were presented certificates and prizes in the presence of their parents. Moreover they had the opportunity to exchange pleasantries with the Ambassador. They suggested that since there are numerous Sri Lankans who are keen to learn Korean, the establishment of more Korean language institutes will greatly benefit them.
Business
Sri Lanka’s EWIS makes history: First homegrown laptops shipped to Zimbabwe

Company stresses ambition to surpass this milestone
Eyes markets across Africa and beyond
In a groundbreaking achievement for Sri Lanka’s IT and electronics manufacturing industry, EWIS Colombo Ltd, the country’s first and only local computer manufacturer, has successfully exported its first consignment of locally built laptops to Zimbabwe.
This landmark event not only positions Sri Lanka as an emerging force in global IT hardware manufacturing but also highlights EWIS’s commitment to innovation, quality, and excellence on the international stage.
This historic shipment, dispatched from EWIS’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Samajasewapura, Sooriyawewa, underscores the company’s dedication to delivering world-class technology solutions. With over 11 years of expertise in manufacturing and assembly, EWIS Colombo Ltd has played a pivotal role in driving Sri Lanka’s ICT sector forward. As a Board of Investment (BOI) Section 17-approved company, EWIS has established the country’s first and only local computer manufacturing plant, paving the way for the nation’s growth in high-tech exports.
Speaking on this momentous achievement, Sanjeewa Wickramanayake, Chairman of EWIS Colombo Ltd, said: “This milestone is not just for EWIS but for Sri Lanka as a whole. It proves that our country has the talent, capability, and ambition to manufacture and export high-quality IT products, competing confidently on the global stage. As we continue expanding beyond local markets, we take immense pride in showcasing Sri Lanka’s excellence in technology and innovation to the world. EWIS’s commitment to world-class quality is reinforced by its ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, CE, FCC, and RoHS certifications, ensuring compliance with international quality, safety, and environmental standards.”
Speaking further he said:
“For nearly four decades, EWIS has been a trailblazer in Sri Lanka’s ICT sector, delivering cutting-edge solutions for education, businesses, and government enterprises.
With over 11 years of local manufacturing and assembly expertise, EWIS has continuously refined its capabilities to produce high-quality, internationally competitive IT hardware. The successful export to Zimbabwe represents a bold step toward expanding EWIS’s global footprint, reinforcing Sri Lanka’s potential as a world-class technology and manufacturing hub.”
Business
Dialog Television and Emerging Media Introduce one-stop advertising solution

Dialog Television, Sri Lanka’s #1 Pay-TV service provider, has partnered with Emerging Media to enhance the convenience and effectiveness of advertising. This collaboration brings together Dialog Television’s world-class entertainment, featuring 18 advertisable channels across genres such as movies, edutainment, kids, music, sports, and local content, with Emerging Media’s expertise in digital advertising and targeted marketing. This synergy creates a seamless platform for businesses to maximize brand exposure across multiple channels.
With a reach of over 1.7 million households, Dialog Television provides advertisers with a powerful avenue to engage diverse audiences. Brands can place advertisements on leading international and local channels such as &flix, Star Movies, TLC, Animal Planet, AXN, Zee Café, Comedy Central, Star Plus, A+, Nickelodeon, Star Vijay, Zee Tamil, Star Sports, Ten Cricket, Sony SIX, ThePapare TV, Channel One, Citi Hitz and Channel C. Through this partnership, Emerging Media will facilitate advertising sales, allowing businesses to target specific viewer segments while simplifying the media buying process with a single point of contact.
Commenting on the partnership, Lim Li San, Group Chief Operating Officer at Dialog Axiata PLC, stated, “As Sri Lanka’s premier Pay-TV service provider, we serve more than 1.7 million households with over 6 million pairs of captive eyeballs across Sri Lanka. Today, we are excited to embark on this partnership with Emerging Media to avail our Dialog Television platform and brand strength to provide quality advertisement exposure and customer engagement to local businesses across Sri Lanka.”
Business
IIHS partners with University of Surrey to transform healthcare education

The International Institute of Health Sciences (IIHS), a pioneer in healthcare training for over 23 years, has partnered with the University of Surrey, UK, to revolutionise healthcare education in Sri Lanka and the broader South Asian region. This will create a world-class academic pathway for aspiring nursing and healthcare professionals, as well as young individuals seeking careers in the field. Under this agreement, IIHS and the University of Surrey will introduce a series of academic initiatives to enhance healthcare training and accessibility.
These include delivering internationally recognised nursing programmes that allow Sri Lankan and regional students to earn globally competitive qualifications in Sri Lanka.
Commenting on the move, Dr. Kithsiri Edirisinghe, CEO & Dean of Undergraduate Studies at IIHS, said: “This MOU marks a significant step in our mission to deliver world-class healthcare education to Sri Lanka and the region. IIHS remains dedicated to shaping the future of healthcare professionals and fostering global healthcare leadership.” Dr. Shelini Surendran, Associate Dean (International) at the University of Surrey, emphasised: “Sri Lanka is establishing itself as a regional education hub, and this partnership ensures students across Asia can access top-tier UK healthcare education at IIHS. By bridging academic excellence with accessibility, we provide students with a clear pathway to their professional goals.”
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