Sri Lanka is set to resume sending workers to South Korea under the E-8 visa category, with the first group scheduled to depart on Tuesday (14).

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment Arun Hemachandra stated that the programme has been reactivated under new agreements following government intervention, after earlier irregular arrangements had limited employment opportunities.

The initial batch of 16 young workers will travel to the Yeongwol region in South Korea to take up jobs in the agricultural sector under a pilot project.

Sri Lankan workers are already employed in South Korea under multiple visa categories, including E-9, E-7, and E-8, with the latter focusing on seasonal employment.

Under this programme, selected workers will be employed for a period of eight months and are required to return to Sri Lanka upon completion of their contracts.

The Deputy Minister warned that failure to return on time could negatively impact future opportunities for other workers, while noting that the government is working to further expand overseas employment prospects.

Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment and other relevant institutions were also present at the event.