The Hon. Governor of the Northern Province, N. Vethanayahan, requested the Republic of Korea’s Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Lee Myeon, to extend assistance for establishing a “Waste-to-Energy” project aimed at resolving the persistent solid-waste management issues in the Northern Province.
This meeting took place this morning, on Monday – 17 November 2025, at the Governor’s Secretariat, with the participation of a delegation led by the Korean Ambassador.
The Ambassador stated that preliminary steps have already been taken to implement a solid-waste management project in Sri Lanka, and that discussions have been held with the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Environment, and the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs and Provincial Councils. The Governor welcomed the plan being extended to the Northern Province as well, and highlighted the challenges faced by local authorities in the province in managing solid waste.
The Ambassador also proposed implementing a mangrove-planting promotion project aimed at improving environmental balance in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. He further stated that 11 health projects will be implemented in Sri Lanka through the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare, with the Northern Province included among the beneficiaries.
The Governor expressed gratitude for the building facilities provided to the Jaffna College of Technology through the KOICA project. He pointed out the current shortage of technical equipment and the need for building upgrades. Although the KOICA project has now concluded, the Ambassador assured that these needs would be taken into consideration.
Noting Korea’s global advancements in industrial and technological sectors, the Governor urged that investments be encouraged to introduce industrial employment opportunities and training for youth in the Northern Province. He also requested support for establishing a Korean language training centre or language training classes.
The Governor further spoke about the successful implementation of greenhouse farming and smart irrigation systems in Korea, and requested cooperation to introduce these projects on a pilot basis in a selected village in the Northern Province. He noted that although farmers in the province are hardworking, traditional practices have led to increased production costs and declining yields. Introducing such projects would enable low-cost, high-output production, he emphasized. The Ambassador responded positively, stating that the proposal would be considered favorably.
The Governor’s Secretary and coordinating secretaries to the Governor also participated in this meeting.
