Cabinet approval has been granted for the implementation of the “Hospitality Labour Force” Program, with the first phase using funds allocated for Samurdhi beneficiaries and the second phase under public-private partnerships, interorganizational cooperation, and through co-sponsorship funds.
The government says more than 800,000 trained people are required in different categories in the tourism and hospitality sector to achieve its strategic objectives to attract 5 million tourists to Sri Lanka annually by the year 2030.
However, the Sri Lanka Tourism and Hotel Management Institute does not have the capability to train such a large number of people due to the limited resources available to the institute.
Therefore, the Sri Lanka Tourism and Hotel Management Institute has planned to conduct a six (6)-month vocational training program at the 3rd level of the National Vocational Qualification (NVQ 3) under the name “Hospitality Labour Force.”
This program will utilize infrastructure facilities and trainers from public and private sector training Institutes on the island that are accredited by the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission. This training program is to be conducted for youth who are interested in the hospitality industry at micro, small, medium, and large scales by providing theoretical knowledge and practical training. T
The proposed program will be conducted in groups of 30 students, covering 360 hours over 60 days, with the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management maintaining academic, management, and quality assurance, and for Rs. 55,832.50 per participant.
The first phase of this program, 20,000 youths from Samurdhi beneficiary families, will be trained using the funds allocated for the empowerment of Samurdhi beneficiaries under the Department of Samurdhi Development by commencing this program in the year 2025 and ending in the year 2026.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Tourism to train the remaining 80,000 people under public-private partnerships, interorganizational cooperation, and through co-sponsorship funds. (Newswire)
