Colombo: Sri Lanka President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa Tuesday (02) inaugurated the ‘Skills’ Sri Lanka Program under the theme “A Generation with Competencies” at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall in Colombo.
The State Ministry of Skills Development, Vocational Education, Research and Innovation is implementing the program with the aim of creating a skilled human resource suitable for the world economy and the workplace.
A 70 percent of the total unemployed population in Sri Lanka is in the unskilled labor category. The training should make them a team with the skills to match the job demand.
The “Skills” Sri Lanka program will establish a broad network of social infrastructure for school dropouts and for unskilled labor force among both the unemployed and employed categories. Skills development is done in eight sectors in the long and short term.
The President unveiled the official logo of ‘Skills’ Sri Lanka and also inaugurated a program to provide a monthly stipend of Rs. 4,000 for students undergoing vocational training in selected fields.
Five buses designed as mobile vocational training units will be operated island wide from today in parallel to the program. The President officially handed over the buses to the Chairman of the National Apprenticeship and Industrial Training Authority.
Seetha Arambepola, State Minister of Skills Development, Vocational Education, Research and Innovation presented the first edition of the Skills Sri Lanka newspaper to the President.
The Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa presented protective clothing to students seeking vocational training. Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister stated that it is the responsibility of the government to make the lives of future generations pass, regardless of which examination they fail.
The Prime Minister also said that the country is committed to arming the youth of this country with the professional knowledge that fits the advanced society of the world.
Marking the contribution of the private sector to the “Skills” Sri Lanka program Pizza Hut and Orange handed over letters of intent to State Minister Seetha Arambepola.
Minister of Education Prof. G.L. Peiris also addressed the gathering. – PMD
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