Colombo, Sri Lanka (October 30, 2024) –Kosala Wickramasinghe, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau, has declared that the E-8 visa agreement, signed by a former minister, is illegal. He emphasized that no private agency in Sri Lanka has been authorized to send workers to South Korea or collect fees under this visa system.
Addressing the ongoing concerns surrounding the E-8 visa, Wickramasinghe explained, “This visa is only valid for five months, which can lead to numerous complications. Historically, no government has approved such an arrangement.” He clarified that the previous agreement was made unilaterally by a former minister without cabinet approval, rendering it invalid.
“The former minister acted on personal initiative, entering into an agreement with the governor of Wando province without any official sanction. As a result, the Foreign Employment Bureau cannot be held accountable for this unauthorized arrangement,” he stated. Wickramasinghe further revealed that discussions with the South Korean government have indicated a preference against accepting workers under the E-8 visa system.
Instead, he pointed out that there are legitimate opportunities under the E-9 visa, with the potential to send over 7,000 workers to South Korea by the end of the year for a duration of nearly five years. Wickramasinghe urged job seekers to refrain from paying any fees to enter South Korea under the E-8 visa, emphasizing the importance of pursuing legal avenues for employment that ensure better job security and income potential.
