For the first time in South Asia an internationally accredited fire fighting training school will be opened in Galle targeting to attract local and foreign students to Sri Lanka.
The two companies involved in this initiative, Association of Firefighters South Korea and Troja international management and consulting services Biyagama are targeting to attract students from India, Bangladesh and the Maldives to follow this six months course.
Though there is huge demand in the world for qualified fire fighters there is no internationally qualified fire fighting training school in the region hence many high paying international job opportunities do not come to the region depriving huge amounts of foreign remittances.
“It is to fill this gap that we joined Association of Firefighters South Korea, one of the largest training schools in Korea,” said Chairman Troja international management and consulting services Dr. Nimal Rohitha Kahagalagewa. He said that they hope to commence the course in September and hope to produce 500 firefighters in the first six months.
Director Troja International Ravindra Gayanath said that they have already received approval and assistance from the Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment, Manusha Nanayakkara.
“The Minister has also provided space to us from the Galle Town Hall premises to launch this course. We hope to advertise this course region from next month.”
The Galle Municipal Council fire fighting unit too would be upgraded to facilitate practical training activities Chairman Association of firefighters Korea, Kang yun jin said that Sri Lanka went through a financial crisis and they are very keen to open this school in Sri Lanka which will help to increase remittances to the island. He also said that after undergoing the first course (TOPIK2) in Sri Lanka they will be recruited to his school where they will be provided advanced training and then sent for employment where over 450 companies in Korea have ready-made jobs for them. The minimum salary would be nearly Rs. 700,000.”
If they pass and want to move to Europe, UK or USA this too is possible as their certificate is accepted all over the world. Chairman Association of Nursing South Korea, Kim Song Chor said that similar to fire fighters there is also a demand for caregivers in hospitals in Korea and they hope to introduce a similar TOPIK2 course in nursing starting at the end of the year also in Galle.
Chor who is also a Vice President at Association of Fire Fighters said they will send volunteer teachers for both these courses and online platforms too would be introduced. (SS)
