5,000 jobs in ME, hotels for Lankans

Indika Polkotuwa and Asela Kuruluwansa

The Tourism Ministry will send 5,000 youth to secure jobs in hotels in the Middle-East next year, said Tourism Deputy Minister Faizer Musthapa.

He was speaking at a function at Mahaweli Reach, Kandy organised to educate hoteliers and hotel managers in Kandy on the programme to give practical training in Kandy hotels to students from the hotel school in Kandy.

Hotel owners and managers from 16 tourist hotels from Kandy and Nuwara Eliya participated. In the past Sri Lankan youth went to the Middle East for employment as labourers for a paltry sum of US$150 to 200 per month. But our new scheme will send those youth to the hotel trade there for a better salary, the Deputy Minister said.

Kandy Hotel School Principal Senaka Wijewardene, Managing Director, Mahaweli Reach Hotel Jayantha Panabokka were also present at this awareness programme.