The Sri Lankan Embassy in Seoul, Korea, Friday marked the 69th anniversary of independence from colonial Britain as well as thriving ties with Korea officially extending to 40 years.

The reception at Millennium Seoul Hilton drew dignitaries from both countries, including Kang Ho-in, Korean minister of land, infrastructure and transport, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Sri Lankan minister of disaster management, Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Sri Lankan minister of public administration and management, and Chandrani Bandara, Sri Lankan minister of women and child affairs, reported Korea Herald.

Since independence on Feb. 4, 1948, Sri Lanka has had to confront “formidable challenges,” including three decades of conflict, Sri Lankan Ambassador to Korea Manisha Gunasekera highlighted in a speech.

“Yet today, over seven years since the conflict ended, Sri Lanka stands proud in having successfully defeated the forces of terror and consolidated peace,” the envoy stressed. “We are engaged in a transparent process of bringing about durable peace and reconciliation to all people of different ethnicities and religions.”

The relations between Sri Lanka and Korea are undergirded by some 25,000 Sri Lankan migrant laborers here, who work in the manufacturing, construction and fisheries sectors through the Employment Permit System, according to the ambassador.

Last year was marked by high-level exchanges between the two countries. Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera visited Korea in March, accompanied by Foreign Employment Minister Thalatha Atukorale. Their visit was followed by Minister of Western Development Patali Champika Ranawaka in May and Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade Malik Samarawickrama in September.

Ranawaka signed a memorandum of understanding with Kang for developing new towns in capital Colombo and its surrounding area, a $40 billion initiative known as the Western Region Megapolis Plan. The ambitious scheme aims to transform the greater Colombo area into an economic growth pole over the next 15 years.

“What really opened the door for our vibrant bilateral exchanges was cooperation in construction,” Kang said. He added that Korea had actively participated in various infrastructure developments of Sri Lanka, including the Puttalam housing project, Colombo port expansion project and waterfront resort construction project.

When Sri Lanka was devastated by a wave of killer tsunamis in 2004, Korea lent a helping hand in reconstruction and rehabilitation, Kang added.

“Sri Lanka has served as a vital hub of maritime transport across Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe,” Kang said, calling the country “the Pearl of the Indian Ocean” as it is known. He encouraged Koreans to visit Sri Lanka and experience its Buddhist and other historic treasures, tropical natural beauties and Ceylon tea.