Weerawila student batch one

The Skills for Sustainable Growth (SSG) project has reached another significant milestone, opening six new learning centres in July and August. 

These centres are located in Bulathsinghala in the Kalutara district, Katunayake in the Gampaha district, Rajagiriya in the Colombo district, Valachchenai in the Batticaloa district, Kuchchaveli in the Trincomalee district and Ampara in the Ampara district. 

The existing four centres are in Senkadagala in the Kandy district, Naula in the Matale district, Meepilimana in the Nuwara Eliya district and Weerawila in the Hambantota district. 

With this expansion, the SSG has now extended its youth development operations across 10 districts in Sri Lanka, becoming one of the largest networks of hospitality study centres in the country, providing equal opportunities for underprivileged youth, regardless of gender, ethnicity or religion. According to recent statistics, over 600 students have registered and are currently being trained, with plans underway to enrol and train an additional 970 students by the end of 2024, including opening new centres. The goal for 2025 is to register 1,830 students across all 10 centres.

Recent updates from the centres include the first batch of students from SSG Nuwara Eliya, who will complete their five-month internships in September. These students have secured positions at renowned hotels such as the Grand Hotel, Hill Club, Seven Heaven, Landale and Oliphant Bungalow by Amaya.

Meanwhile, the second batch of the Kandy centre successfully completed their four-month theory phase in July and transitioned to paid internships at hotels such as the Grand Kandyan, Mahaweli Reach, Cinnamon Citadel, Casamara Hotel and Heritance Tea Factory.

Similarly, the second batch at the Naula centre has entered paid internships at hotels such as Hunas Falls, Cinnamon Citadel, Sigiri Village, Jetwing Lake, Occidental Paradise, Hikka Tranz, Devon Rest and Mahaweli Reach. The first batch at the Weerawila centre has also completed their four-month classroom theory phase and begun internships at hotels including Shangri-La Hambantota, Laya Safari, Thaulle Ayurvedic Resort and Rice of Life by Tissa Inn, Tamarind Tree Tissamaharama and Cinnamon Wild Yala.