Govt. aims to build skilled workforce for local and global labour markets : PM

Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya recently stated that a key objective of the government’s long-term development vision is to develop a skilled workforce capable of catering to the demands of both the local and global labour markets.

Highlighting the wide skill gap between the labour market and the youth, Amarasuriya stated that the government’s policy statement is focused on providing technical and vocational education for the people in an effort to facilitate broader access to education and training opportunities that align with the needs of the labour market.

“The youth of Sri Lanka possess immense potential to shape a better future for the country. They must acquire skills that are directly relevant to achieving full employment,” Amarasuriya stated.

“To utilise this, we must prioritise the development of vocational and technical education, improving training infrastructure, enhancing training utility through capacity development and creating diverse pathways for youth to pursue vocational education,” she added.

Amarasuriya shared these remarks last week at a certificate awarding ceremony organised by the Sri Lanka Vocational Training Authority, where 761 individuals were awarded for completing diploma courses.

Addressing the event she highlighted the importance of valuing every profession in the country to instill confidence among the youth to encourage them to pursue diverse career paths.

The workforce must be equipped with entrepreneurial capabilities and the education system should ensure that no person is left behind.

“The government is dedicated to expanding opportunities for young people in the vocational and technical education sector to build a skilled workforce aligned with local and global demands,” Amarasuriya asserted.