Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said that since skilled labour is a prerequisite for the country to modernise its economy and move forward in development, his prime objective is to transform Sri Lanka into a country rich with skilled labour within the next 10 years.
He said countries such as Japan and South Korea achieved rapid development because they relied on skilled labour.
The Prime Minister was addressing a meeting after laying the foundation stone for the proposed National College of Education of Technology costing Rs. 2,500 million in Narangalla, Kuliyapitiya on August 31.
He said the proposed National College of Education of Technology is a donation from the Republic of South Korea and he wished to thank the Korean Government for the valuable gift.
The new college could be described as part of the programme to modernises the economy through the modernisation of education.
The government had ensured 13 years of continuous education for the children population. In this context, some children would have to pursue education in the technological or vocational fields. Teachers were required to impart education to those children. Although the new college would begin the training of teachers in this regard, they hoped to set up several other institutions of this nature for the training of teachers in the near future.
The Premier said it was the duty and responsibility of teachers churning out of this college to impart the necessary knowledge to the student generation in this country.
As the first step towards transforming the country with skilled labour, the largest technical training centre in the country was opened in Orugodawatta under Korean aid recently. Children could enter such institutions and obtain training after finishing schools. Without being limited to these two institutions, the government has planned to open several other institutions of this nature in the near future. Steps had been taken to open the medical facility of the Wayamba University on the same day as part of the education system aimed to produce professionals.
“Steps should be taken to increase income levels by ensuring rapid economic development. There was a dire need of 90,000 skilled labour hands when the steps were initially taken to introduce information technology services in the country. Minister Kariyawasam has launched development work throughout the country. He has arranged to launch 900 school development projects on a single day in the near future,” he said.
The Maha Sangha, Ministers Gamini Jayawickrema Perera, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, Rauf Hakeem, State Minister J.C. Alawathuwala, Deputy Minister Nalin Bandara, Parliamentarian Thushara Indunil, Education Ministry Acting Secretary Tissa Hewavithana and Korean Ambassador Heon Lee were also present on the occasion.
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