IDM to provide branding for East

Regional Empowerment and Conflict Transformation through Skills Development of Tsunami Affected Business Community and Youth” (REC TSDETA) project is currently underway in Akkaraipattu and Kalmunai funded by Mercy Corps and in strong collaboration with the Ampara District Chamber of Commerce in establishing two IT schools.

IDM Computer Studies (Pvt) Ltd., is drawn towards the project due to its strong commitment towards Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and social integration, and will provide the branding for the schools through a franchise agreement.

The project is spearheaded, directed, facilitated and monitored by the Business for Peace Alliance (BPA) Sri Lanka’s network of regional chambers of commerce committed to regional empowerment, conflict transformation and CSR.

Ampara has been a district that has seen severe disaster from conflict for the past three decades owing to ongoing ethnic tension.

It was also devastated by the Tsunami.

Ampara district has attracted a large number of international organizations carrying out different types of development, humanitarian and rehabilitation activities.

One of the key focuses of most of the organization is to provide support for livelihood improvement and vocational training.

A survey carried out by Ampara Chamber revealed that most of the vocational training centers that are operating in the district do not work with the business community.

However there is a significant gap between the expectation of the business sector and the output level of skills from these centers.

A sample selected from key businessmen in the district was used for the survey.

It was highlighted during the survey interviews that there was much concern among them about the lack of communication between the training service providers and the business community, which is the cause for this gap.

Therefore the students that graduate from these institutions do not fit into the job market since they do not fit into business expectations.

According to the Ampara Chamber of Commerce, the reason for the slow development in the economy was mainly due to donor support centering on financial support for livelihoods at micro and macro levels and also the offer of support in kind, for infrastructure development.

However, little was offered to equip business to develop skills and keep abreast with modern business management practices in a competitive market economy.

However, little was offered to equip business to develop skills and keep abreast with modern business management practices in a competitive market economy.