The first hi-tech vocational training centre in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province was launched on 18 September. The US $ 7.6 Mn new facility in Ariya Nagar, Kilinochchi gives Northern youth the sought-after, hi-tech NVQ level course offerings such as IT, electronics and automotive mechanics for the first time.
German people and GIZ Sri Lanka office extended its support in setting up this centre with the state of art equipment valued at Rs 350 Million donated by the Stassen Group which is led by Chairman Harry Jayawardana .
The new hi-tech vocational training centre will enhance the industry–oriented skills of the youth in the North. This project shows the close relationship and partnership between the industry and TVET sector” said the Minister of Industry, Commerce, Rishad Bathiudeen in Ariya Nagar, Kilinochchi recently. .
Minister Bathiudeen was joined at the Kilinochchi National Level Vocational Training Centre (KNLVTC) launch by Minister of Finance and Mass Media Mangala Samaraweera, GIZ Sri Lanka Country Director Christiane Einfeldt, HE German Ambassador to Sri Lanka Joern Rohde and officials of National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority (NAITA) .
KNLVTC, while being the first non-University level, hi-tech TVET training centre in North, is also the second National Vocational Training Centre in Sri Lanka set up with the support of the German Government.
It fills the void of a National Vocational Training Institute in the Northern and Eastern Provinces for the first time. KNLVTC is done in collaboration with NAITA
The investment for KNLVTC was US $ 7.67 Mn (SL Rs 1.3 Bn). The German KWF Bank provided the financial support. The Sri Lanka German Training Institute (SLGTI) was declared opened by President Maithripala Sirisena on 17 June 2016. SLGTI is NAITA’s only institute conducting NVQ level 5 and 6 courses.
The campus spreads over 15 acres, and consists of modern laboratories, libraries, computer centers, lecture halls and student hostels and the construction of a new hostel complex for 400 students will begin soon with the assistance of the Skills Sector Development Project (SSDP) at a cost of Rs 400 million.
The donation of the equipment to KNLVTC, is a result of the partnership agreement between the Stassen Group and GIZ on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
(LI)