Vocational training for 30,000 youth

by Samanmalie Priyashantha

"Yovun Diriya" another fulfilment of a promise under the Mahinda Chintana of President Mahinda Rajapakse to introduce youth resources to the productive job market will take off from Mulkirigala under the patronage of Skills Development and State Enterprises Reforms Minister Sripathi Sooriyarachchi on January 30.

Under the Yovun Diriya Programme, 30,000 young men and women aged between 18 to 28, who have stopped higher education at G.C.E. Ordinary Level or Advanced Level Examination, will be selected for vocational one-year training courses covering English, Computers, Aesthetic Studies, Arts, History and Law. The standard of education will not be the criterion of selection.

The talents of young men and women who were not fortunate enough to receive higher education due to various reasons go waste due to the absence of a proper guidance and systematic training opportunities.

Mahinda Chintana has given thought to this aspect and has drawn up the Yovun Diriya Programme with the objective of making such youth capable of contributing their share to the work force of this country.

With this objective in view, 40 Yovun Diriya Centres were established throughout the country to train them as virtuous citizens who can face any challenge they confront, says Minister Sooriyarachchi.

He further said that under the programme it is expected to plant 1.5 million saplings and to launch awareness programmes to give the trainees a back ground knowledge of arts such as dancing, drama, cinema and music.

Young men and women between 18 and 28 years of age who qualify as indicated above may send in their applications before January 20.

Ministry Secretary P.H.G. Premasiri, Music Director Rohana Weerasinghe and Film Producer Renuka Balasuriya attended the media briefing.