Sri Lanka’s Vocational Training Authority and Unilever Group set up vocational training center to develop skills
Unilever Sri Lanka and the Vocational Training Authority of Sri Lanka (VTA) have jointly unveiled a vocational training center in the town of Agarapathana recently.
The launch ceremony was reportedly attended by over 150 people including VTA Chairman Ravi Jayawardana, Ceytea factory manageress Anusha Kotelawala and the first batch of students and their families.
The center, located near Unilever’s Ceytea factory, is a part of the company’s Project Arunella that was launched earlier this year under the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan.
To ensure the long term success of the vocational training center as well as those who attend it, According to media reports, Unilever and the VTA had thoroughly analyzed the needs of the community in terms of skill levels and available employment opportunities. Following this analysis it was decided to offer four courses to train people to become beauticians, hair stylists, ICT technicians, and electricians. These professions were deemed to offer people in the area the best opportunity at long term employment.
Each course is to last six months and the center will have two intakes of 60 students each year.
Commenting on the launch VTA Chairman, Ravi Jayawardana has said, “At the Vocational Training Authority we are dedicated to making the youth of Sri Lanka more skilled and employable by making vocational training more accessible across the country. This is why we are proud to be launching this vocational training center with Unilever. This center will impart the students of this community with invaluable skills that will help them build a career and enjoy economic prosperity. Hence, projects like this help empower communities and strengthen the national economy.”
“We are proud to be partnering with the Vocational Training Authority on this greatly needed project,” Anusha Kotelawala, Factory Manageress – Ceytea Factory in Agarapathana has said.
“We believe this vocational training center will not only benefit the students but the community and the economy as well. These goals closely align with our own and as this project continues we hope to bring about more positive and sustainable change to the area. Hence, we will continue to work with others, evaluate the needs of the community and assess where we can have the greatest positive impact.”
OSL take:
It is encouraging to note that the Sri Lankan government has taken many initiatives to provide vocational training and skills development programmes to the youth. This would result in an expansion in the country’s existing skilled workforce, which in turn would provide easy access for skilled labour to any foreign business/investors looking at doing business in Sri Lanka.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/13092018/Z_4 |