Vocational training for N-E youth who gave up arms - President

The youth in the North and East took recourse to violence for over two decades. We have today restored their democratic rights and have also decided to provide there vocational training, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said.

He was speaking at a conference at Temple Trees to discuss the youth empowerment special programme titled Nipunatha Arunella. The project is implemented by the Skills Development Ministry.

“An important objective of the project is the empowerment of an annual school dropout of 350,000 students through the human resources development training, experience and improvement of attitudes so that they could win over the challenges in life,” the President said.

The participation of ministries such as Environment and Natural Resources, Cultural Affairs, Religious Affairs and Mass Media and Information is envisaged in the implementation of the project.

The President said when providing vocational training to the beneficiaries, the employment opportunities in the local and foreign market are targeted. President Rajapaksa commended the services provided by the Vocational Training Authority was established on his initiative in 1994.

“The contribution to be made by the Authority to Government efforts to create a disciplined society is tremendous,” the President said.Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera MP, Skills Development Minister, Dayasritha Tissera, Deputy Minister, P. Radhakrishnan and Ministry Secretary Tilak Hapangama also participated.