Seated from left: Kia Motors Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer Andrew Perera, KOICA Deputy Country Director Ae Jin Han, Korean Embassy Counsellor Jun Ji Sun, Kia Motors Managing Director Mahen Thambiah, DTET Director J.A. Ranjith and Kia Motors Executive Director Rodney Mason with (standing) first batch of students to receive on-the-job training at Kia Motors (Lanka) Ltd

Kia Motors (Lanka) Ltd has offered on-the-job training at its repair and service facilities to Sri Lankan students who achieved the highest marks on completion of the National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Automobile courses at the local technical colleges, as part of the company’s contribution to a project supported by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). 

The ‘Modernisation and Upgrading of Automobile Centres in Colleges of Technology and Technical Colleges in Sri Lanka’ project is implemented under an Academic-Industry Cooperation Plan that brings together KOICA, Kia Motors and the Skills Development and Vocational Training Ministry.
Kia Motors has undertaken to provide industry exposure to the students, in-service training for teachers, on-the-job training and employment opportunities to selected students, extra and used equipment to the schools upon request and to provide technical assistance to the ministry and the Department of Technical Education and Training (DTET) for the development of the Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector in Sri Lanka.

The first batch of students selected for on-the-job training received their certificates at a recent ceremony attended by the representatives of Kia Motors, KOICA and the Skills Development and Vocational Training Ministry.

“There is lot of potential in Sri Lanka and overseas for well-trained, professionally-qualified mechanics and technicians with hands-on experience and exposure in the automobile industry,” said Kia Motors (Lanka) Ltd Executive Director Andrew Perera.

“Kia Motors is happy to support this project as part of its commitment to good corporate citizenship and its obligation to the needs of the industry.”

Kia Motors (Lanka) Limited has represented the Kia brand in Sri Lanka since 1996.