Global CIM to boost Sri Lanka tourism

CIM chief Sir Paul meets Minister Rajapaksa:

The Chartered Institute of Marketing will launch training programmes on tourism promotion and CIM-related educational projects in Sri Lanka. Already such professionally trained persons in countries like the UK and Germany are doing highly-paid jobs, Global President of CIM Sir Paul Judge.

He said this when he met Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa at the ministry recently.

Sir Paul told the minister that since professional marketing managers are highly recognized worldwide, their contribution to the information technology sector would help to reach tourism promotional goals quickly and effectively.

The CIM President further said the training programmes would help to turn out efficient professionals who would earn high incomes and become direct shareholders of Sri Lanka's national economy.

The trainees would also be given scholarships for this purpose. He expressed confidence that it would not be difficult to realize the CIM's objectives here since Sri Lanka's current environment is conducive to foreign investments.

He is satisfied with the contribution the government is making to uplift education and warns that unless curriculum's changed to meet the needs of the increasing population, crisis situations might arise in the future.

Minister Basil Rajapaksa said that the government had launched a number of programmes to train young people in motor mechanism, diesel and petrol engineering, information technology, carpentry and masonry among others since there is a great demand for professionals in these areas both locally and internationally.

He further said that CIM trainees would be provided with necessary assistance with the help of companies such as Microsoft. The programmes are being conducted at a cost which Sri Lankans can afford. Minister Basil Rajapaksa assured all assistance to the CIM projects since various programmes are being conducted at national, district and rural levels with the participation of both the public and private sectors.

He added that there is an increase in the number of people being trained to meet both local and international job requirements since the training is being conducted to meet international standards. According to Economic Development Minister already Sri Lankans who have been trained at minimum cost are now employed in countries like Australia, New Zealand and Canada as a result of the government continuing to provide free education.

He said that Divi Neguma was one of the important programmes the government had launched to eradicate poverty in the new millennium. A difficulty the government is facing is finding a good market for items produced under this programme, he pointed out. Sir Paul said Sri Lanka must find its own balance between free education and fee-based education, particularly in the field of tertiary education to bring maximum benefit to the wider economy.