New Korean language exam centre opens in Talahena

A state-of-the-art Korean Language Examination Centre equipped with Ubiquitous-based Test (UBT) technology was officially inaugurated today in Talahena, under the patronage of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment Arun Hemachandra.

The new facility, located at 553/1, New Kandy Road, Talahena, will conduct language proficiency exams required for employment in South Korea using smart devices such as tablets, replacing the traditional computer-based system.

The Korean Government’s Human Resources Development Institute introduced the new tablet-based system to enhance efficiency and accommodate more candidates. The Sri Lankan centre, established at the institute’s request, can now facilitate 100 candidates per session and up to 400 candidates daily.

The Korean Employment Program, managed by the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) under a 2004 bilateral MoU, requires all job seekers to pass the Korean language test. Previously, tests were conducted online at a centre in Pannipitiya since 2014.

A total of 36,745 Sri Lankan job candidates are scheduled to sit for the 2025 Korean Language Test at the new Talahena facility between October 23, 2025, and March 2026.

Officials said the UBT system — an advanced electronic testing method using portable devices — marks a major step forward in modernizing foreign employment examinations and expanding opportunities for Sri Lankan workers in South Korea.