Skills upgrading workshops in tsunami-hit areas

Mohammed Naalir

A programme to conduct skills upgrading workshops in technical colleges in tsunami affected districts will be mooted soon.

The Organisation of Professional Associations of Sri Lanka (OPA), Sri Lankan German Development Cooperation (GTZ) and Technical Education and Training (DTET) Department signed a Memorandum of Understanding to this effect in Colombo on Monday.

Advisor to Technical and Vocational Education and Training section of Sri Lankan-German Development Cooperation Kirston Brehm Advisor and Dr. H.L. Obeysekara Director General of DTET and OPA President Elmo Perera signed the agreement.

President of OPA Elmo Perera said it aims to produce skilled craftsmen through such training programmes. Eventhough there are a large number of craftsmen in the country they do not have technical know how.

The programme seeks to produce skilled technical assistants for the construction sector, he said.

Advisor of GTZ Kirston Brehm said the programme will be conducted in technical colleges of the tsunami affected Western, Southern and Eastern Provinces.

Homagama, Kalutara, Balapitiya, Galle, Matara, Beliatta, Weerawila, Ampara, Samanthurai, Batticaloa and Trincomalee Technical Colleges have been selected for the programme.

She said the GTZ supports training courses for construction technology technicians, draughtsmen, civil engineering technicians and quantity surveyors in the construction industry and electricians and technicians for industrial electronics, sanitary installation, matching and fitting, refrigeration, air conditioning, steel fabrication and welding in the technical service sector and telecommunications technicians and automotive technicians in the communications and transport sector.

The programme will expand to Dambulla, Kuliyapitiya and Moneragala technical colleges shortly.