Project News

The Department of Technical Education and Training (DTET) aims to offer a comprehensive Vocational and Technical Education to the youth. It has promoted a Technical College (TC) in each province to a college of Technology (CoT) which carries out the Diploma Courses. CoT's diploma courses are applied to National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) levels 5 & 6 and aim at fostering technicians which are in high demand in local and foreign industries.

JICA has provided assistance, as one of its cordial assistance towards the country, to Sri Lanka CoT in Maradana, Colombo in the development of three model courses such as Mechatronics, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Metal Technology through the Project for the establishment of Japan-Sri Lanka College of Technology (JSCoT).

The official Inauguration ceremony of Sri Lanaka CoT/JSCoT was held at the main hall of Sri Lanka Technical College, Maradana, on 07th August 2007 in the presence of Mr. Masayuki Taga, the Counselor of the Embassy of Japan and Vocational and Technical Training Hon. Minister Piyasena Gamage as chief guests.

They first hoisted the national flags, cut the ribbon and uncovered the plaque to officially declare the opening of the College of Technology, Maradana. Then they toured the workshops and laboratories, where our counterpart staff and students demonstrated the practice. After the visits they adjourned to the main hall of Maradana TC.

Followings are some quotes from the speeches delivered by the organizer and guests:

• "Our effort is to minimize the unemployment rate in Sri Lanka and enable the youth to come forward as skilled workmen and entrepreneurs" said Dr. H.L. Obeysekare, Director General, DTET at his welcome speech.

• Mr. Takumi Ueshima, JICA Resident Representative said ,"Maradana CoT staff is capable to give a good training to their trainees as they have been trained in relevant fields". Mr. Tilak Hapangama, Secretary of the Ministry, highlighted the services of the Chief Advisor, Mr. Yoshiaki Umimae and his team of JSCoT Project.

• The Counselor of the Embassy of Japan, Mr. Masayuki Taga requested the trainees to get the maximum benefit of the Project to be the future leaders of the industrial workforce.

• "We have established a NVQ laddering system to start from the bottom to reach the top for those who wish to have a certificate, diploma or degree through this laddering system. Therefore I believe the trainees of technical institutes will be encouraged to join CoTs to get the diploma as well as "UNIVOTEC" to get the degree", the Minister, Piyesena Gamage said.

Finally the vote of thanks was delivered by the Principal of Sri Lanka Technical College – Maradana, Mr. N.R.R.K. Wijenayake.

This opening ceremony really marked a new chapter in the history of Sri Lanka Technical College, a pioneer in technical education and training in the country with 114 years.