Vocational training centre opens in Kaithady with support of German Government

 VTA Vice Chairman Sugath Handunge – Attorney at law addresses the gathering, joined by board members of the VTA, Chairman-VTA Major General Gamini Hettiarachchi), Additional GA-Jaffna Senthilnanathanan), GIZ-VTN Senior Advisor Kumudhini Rosa, Ministry Additional Secretary Nailanthi Sugadhadhasa, NP Governor Reginald Cooray, Ministry of Skill Development and Vocational Training Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe, Embassy of Germany for Sri Lanka and the Maldives Charge de Affair Dr. Michael-Dohmen, Member of Parliament Angajan Ramanathan, VTA Director General Chulanagani Perera

From left: Minister of Skills Development and Vocational Training Mahinda Samarasinghe, Embassy of Germany for Sri Lanka and the Maldives Charge de affair Dr. Michael Dohmen and Northern Province Governor Reginald Cooray unveil a plaque at the inauguration of the vocational training centre in Kaithady, Jaffna

The Vocational Training Authority of Sri Lanka (VTA) announced the inauguration of its vocational training centre in Kaithady, Jaffna on 4 March. The Vocational Training in the North and East of Sri Lanka (VTN) Project is a bilateral cooperation between the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Federal Republic of Germany. The project is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaftfür Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the Kreditanstaltfür Wiederaufbau (German Development Bank – KfW) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The Sri Lankan governmental partner is the Ministry of Skills Development and Vocational Training. 

The VTA Kaithady centre is among 14 planned satellite centres that will support the Sri Lankan-German Training Institute (SLGTI), the project’s flagship training institute, currently under construction in Killinochchi, is due to be opened in July. Located alongside the A-9 Road in Kaithady in the Jaffna district, the Centre comes under the Vocational Training Authority (VTA) and has been renovated and equipped by KfW on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). 

The inauguration ceremony which was held at the Kaithady Vocational Training Centre was graced by Minister of Skills Development and Vocational Training Mahinda Samarasinghe MP, German Embassy in Sri Lanka Charge de Affair Dr. Michael Dohmen, Northern Province Governor Reginald Cooray, Vocational Training Authority (VTA) Chairman Major General Gamini Hettiarachchi and GIZ VTN Project Senior Advisor Kumudhini Rosa. 

The GIZ VTN Project is designed to improve demand-oriented vocational education and training in the North and East of Sri Lanka. The curriculum includes training in automobile technology as well as courses for three wheeler mechanics, industrial electricians, welders, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics and in ICT with a special focus on English language learning and caters for up to 150 students at the centre. In addition to such technical skills, the programs also include social integration, gender awareness and the development of soft skills which will be integral aspects of the training process on offer.

German government support enabled the Kaithady centre to be completely re-constructed and fitted with the latest equipment necessary for the training courses that will be conducted there. An automobile workshop was established at the centre in order to help students to receive training in the latest technology in this field. 

The Kaithady centre is a state-of-the-art training institute set up to equip youth in the North and East with the skills they need to compete in the labour market. It seeks to ensure that marginalised groups such as war widows and persons with disabilities will have access to the vocational training on offer. Trainees who complete NVQ Level 3 and Level 4 in the respective technical programs conducted at the VTA Kaithady training centre will be eligible to join the Sri Lankan-German Training Institute (SLGTI) in Kilinochchi which will open its doors on 15 July for vocational education students following courses up to NVQ Level 4, 5 and 6.

Germany has been developing the vocational training sector in Sri Lanka for over 50 years through bilateral collaboration that supports vocational training courses throughout the island.