Koshala Wickremasinghe, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), recently disclosed that the E-8 visa agreement with South Korea was signed unlawfully by a former minister, lacking both Cabinet approval and official government authorization.

In his statement, Wickremasinghe clarified that no private employment agencies in Sri Lanka are permitted to send workers to South Korea under the E-8 visa system or to collect any fees related to it. He pointed to public misconceptions about the E-8 visa, explaining that it is a short-term visa restricted to five months, posing potential risks due to insufficient government oversight.

“There is currently a debate around the E-8 visa system in Sri Lanka. These visas are only available for a five-month period, which could lead to various issues. This is why no government has sanctioned agreements under this category. No private agencies in Sri Lanka are authorized to send workers to Korea or collect money for this purpose,” he stated.

Wickremasinghe further explained that the former minister had independently arranged the E-8 visa deal with a provincial governor in South Korea’s Wando Province, bypassing necessary governmental approvals.

The SLBFE, he added, cannot be held responsible for this unauthorized arrangement, which was not sanctioned by South Korean authorities. Upon learning of this deal, South Korean officials expressed concerns and requested that Sri Lanka avoid facilitating worker placements under the E-8 visa.

 “The E-9 visa, which offers placements for four years and ten months, remains the proper and stable route for Sri Lankan workers in Korea. By the end of this year, we anticipate sending more than 7,000 individuals under this legal system, which ensures substantial income and job security. We strongly advise job seekers against paying for opportunities tied to the unauthorized E-8 visa,” he added.