Construction Chamber opens Craftsmen Training Centre at Matara

The Chamber of Construction Industry Sri Lanka recently inaugurated a construction craftsmen training centre at Madihe, Matara with the participation of Shiranthi Rajapakse, wife of the President.

Chief Executive Officer/Secretary General of the Chamber Dakshitha Thalgodapitiya said the construction chamber is focusing its prioritized attention on craftsmen training and building capacities of the industry through development of the SME sector of the industry. He said craftsmen training is carried out in collaboration with Bioforce Development Institute of France which is a specialized humanitarian training agency, who will also provide pedagogical support.

Trainees will be paid a daily living allowance during their 6-month training period and on completion will receive accreditation in terms of NVQ framework (Level III) of the Tertiary and Vocational Educational Commission (TVEC). He added that this is the second training centre they have established in the Southern Province and look forward to the establishment of a third centre in the district of Hambantota on identification of a suitable building with infrastructure.

With less than 95% of the present day construction craftsmen not receiving any formal training or accreditation, he expressed the hope that the training of construction craftsmen as carried out by the Chamber will not only mitigate the huge shortage of skilled workers but also enhance quality of construction, productivity and eventually would contribute to arresting of the inflationary trend and cost escalations in the construction industry. The Chamber of Construction Industry is expected to establish training centres in Ampara, Matale, and in the Colombo district in collaboration with several statutory authorities, local government bodies and international donors. He expects an annual delivery output of around 700 craftsmen per centre.

The training centre at Matara is located in a rehabilitated tsunami-affected building. In the selection of trainees preference will be given to Samurdhi beneficiaries.