Vocational training for fisherfolk children
Chamikara WEERASINGHE
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Ministry will start vocational
training programs for children of fisherfolk families from January,
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Dr Rajitha
Senaratna said. He was addressing the fisherfolk in Kalutara at a
Fisheries Conference held by them.
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Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Dr
Rajitha Senaratna hands over a pack of exercise books to a
schoolgirl at Kalutara District Fisheries Conference. It was
held at D S Senanayaka Maha Vidyalaya, Beruwala. Pradeshiya
Sabha Member Nandana Weerasekara, Kalutara District National
Fisheries Council President Dayananda De Silva were present.
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Senaratna said the vocational training courses will be given to those
children in fisherfolk community who have not received higher education.
The National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority (NAITA) will
conduct the training courses, he said.
The Ministry has arranged to provide training to 285 children, he
said.
They will be able to find jobs of their particular technical fields
once they have completed their training under NAITA.
The program aims to develop and promote better living standards for
the fisherfolk children, he said.
Senaratna said action will be taken to insure 175,000 fishermen in
February. The fishermen over 60 years will enable to get a pension. The
fisherfolk children will be provided with scholarships under the
programs lined up by the Ministry, he said. He said the Fisheries sector
is responsible for 20 percent of the country's economic growth. "I plan
to bring that mark to 50 percent by the end of 2011," he said.
He said three fisheries harbours will be constructed in Gurunagar,
Silawathura and Gandara this year. Denmark has undertaken to construct
these harbours. Another fishery harbour will be built at Mailady with
the help of the Korean Government, he added. |
