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 Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the Kreditanstalt für 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 2016.
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 Hon. Mahinda Samarasinghe MP, Minister of Skills Development and Vocational Training, Dr. Michael Dohmen – Charge de Affair – German Embassy in Sri Lanka, Hon. Reginald Cooray – Governor, Northern Province, Major General Gamini Hettiarachchi, Chairman - Vocational Training Authority (VTA) and Ms. Kumudhini Rosa, Senior Advisor - GIZ VTN Project.
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 programmes 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 marginalized 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 programmes 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 15th July 2016 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.
Captions: (From left)
1.) Hon. Mahinda Samarasinghe (Minister of Skills Development and Vocational Training), Dr. Michael Dohmen (Charge de affair - Embassy of Germany for Sri Lanka and the Maldives), and Hon. Reginald Cooray (Governor-Northern Province) unveil a plaque at the inauguration of the vocational training centre in Kaithady, Jaffna.
2.) Vice Chairman VTA (Mr. Sugath Handunge- Attorney at law) addresses the gathering, joined by board members of the VTA, Chairman-VTA (Major General Gamini Hettiarachchi), Additional GA-Jaffna (Mr. Senthilnanathanan), Senior Advisor-GIZ-VTN (Mrs. Kumudhini Rosa), Additional Secretary-Ministry (Mrs. Nailanthi Sugadhadhasa), Governor-NP (Hon. Reginald Cooray), Minister-Ministry of Skill Development and Vocational Training (Hon. Mahinda Samarasinghe), Charge de Affair-Embassy of Germany for Sri Lanka and the Maldives (Dr. Michael-Dohmen), Member of Parliament-(Hon. Angajan Ramanathan), Director General-VTA (Mrs. Chulanagani Perera)
