India helps upgrade vocational training

Rs 205.5 m to N’Eliya centre:

Suraj A BANDARA

The Indian government will fund Rs 205.5 million to upgrade the Nuwara Eliya vocational training centre.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also signed by Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Ashok K. Kantha and Youth Affairs and Skills Development Minister Dullas Alahapperuma in this regard at the Youth Affairs Ministry yesterday.

High Commissioner K. Kantha said that the decision was taken to strengthen the relationship between the two countries.

Nearly 80 percent work of the vocational training centres in the Batticaloa district has been completed. He said India will support on the setting up of facilities at two vocational training centres in Vavuniya and Jaffna upon the completion of these centres.

The project will be implemented jointly by the Indian government through HMT (I) Ltd, and Sri Lanka Vocational Training Authority.

Under the project, the Indian government will supply equipment, upgrade existing vocational training programmes and develop seven vocational Training courses by introducing modern technology. Machinist, IT, computer Hardware and Networking, Electronics, electrical, automobile and aluminum fabrication will be newly introduced subject areas.

The Indian government will enhance library facilities and will provide overseas training for the academic staff. The mediums of instruction will be Tamil and Sinhalese.