The Sri Lanka German Training Institute (SLGTI) in Kilinochchi declared open by the President H.E. Maithripala Sirisena with the distinguished participation of the German Ambassador H. E Dr Jürgen Morhard, other diplomats, ministers and members of Parliament including the Opposition Leader R. Sambandan, Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe and the Northern Provincial Council Governor Reginald Cooray. SLGTI aims to provide demand-driven vocational education and training in select trades to meet the industry requirements in a post-war economy and inspire youth to become self-sufficient through effective vocational training.
“Germany has played a key role in shaping Sri Lanka’s vocational training landscape for the last 50 years and this venture is yet another testament to this commitment. The GIZ Vocational training in the North and East (VTN) Project and the Sri Lanka German Training Institute (SLGTI) will, no doubt, change the lives of youth and empower them for employment, engagement and entitlement, which they have been denied for decades,” said Minister Samarasinghe, speaking about this venture.
“With the opening of the Sri Lankan German Training Institute (SLGTI) in 2016, we can proudly say that this path to reconciliation and rehabilitation has made another step in making better lives for these youth. I have personally seen the determination, courage and the perseverance to succeed in these students and it is time to give them the opportunity to make a difference in this great nation’s future,” said Dr. Jurgen Morhard, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
With state-of-the-art facilities meeting the highest German standards, the institute will offer over 600 youth the chance to further study vocational training between NVQ (National Vocational Qualification) levels 4 to 6 in five key areas – construction technology, automobile technology, food processing technology, electrical and electronics technology, and mechanical engineering.
SLGTI is built on a 15-acre land, and includes dormitory facilities for up to 145 students and staff, a well-developed English Resource Centre, sports facilities including a ground, cafeteria and a Kindergarten/day care facility for young parents studying at the Institute. In keeping with the Institute’s efforts in creating equal opportunities for all, all buildings are accessible to the differently-abled, ensuring that training is not just for the youth who are mobile, and active, but anyone who is interested in gaining vocational qualifications.
The President expressed his warm wishes to the German ambassador , Jürgen Morhard who is about to leave Sri Lanka following the end of his tenure and he also expressed his special thanks to the ambassador for his contribution in utilizing the German assistance to Sri Lanka more productively including the construction of this vocational training center.
President Maithripala Sirisena planted a Kohomba sapling to mark the declare opening of the Sri Lanka – German Training Institute at the premises of the Institute. Subsequently, he also made an inspection tour of the Sri Lanka – German Training Institute.