Rishad calls for more industrial training in school curriculum

27 November 2015 06:30 pm - 1 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

Sri Lanka’s proposed economic reforms are of such a magnitude that it is possibly the third generation of reforms in the country’s economic history, and Lankan youth are increasingly attracted to services and it is now time to enlist them to manufacturing as well, said Industry and Commerce Minister Rihad Bathiudeen, presenting his Budget speech in Parliament yesterday.

He also called for lowering of energy costs to sustain country’s manufacturing competitiveness.
“I commend Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s call for clear long term economic policy for Sri Lanka to become a highly competitive social market economy. As the Industry Minister I stress that industries are one third of our GDP with another 60 percent from services sector.
“Our industry base is almost manufacturing rather than mining or ‘electricity gas and water supply.’ In fact 99 percent of our industries are in manufacturing and this sector is diverse with some world class segments such as apparels, rubber, packaging, stationery, and print material. The industrial development of the country is vital for us to transform into a strong economy in Asia. Still we also need to focus on cost of manufacturing for this to be truly effective and productive,” the Minister noted.
Speaking further he said, “It is important for us to minimize power costs in our manufacturing. We pay between US$ 4 billion to 5 billion for oil imports and about one-fourth of our imports costs are for oil. Since Thermal power is the key power supply with 70 percent of the supply, our manufacturing energy costs need to be lowered further, with the reduction of thermal energy.”
Studies also show that power demand will increase from industries in future as a result of a more complex economy and households due to rising incomes.
Minister Bathiudeen said he believed that the plan to provide one million jobs in the coming years is a great step forward for our youth.
This action will also pave the way to integrate our youth more closely to our economic reform process.
Speaking on the need to engage more youth into manufacturing, Bathiudeen said, “It is also time that we integrate more industrial training in our education system and enhance existing vocational training schemes across many more subjects. Technology education should not only be for ICT and computing but also for industrial and machine technologies as well as new health and medicine and innovation sectors.”

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

Comments - 1

OMG Sunday, 29 November 2015 05:28 PM

Very good move, lets implement it immediately.

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Rishad calls for more industrial training in school curriculum

Comments - 1

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

UDA owned land in Thalawathugoda; UDA Minister Prasanna Ranatunga under the spotlight for forceful occupation of reserved land

Loss-making SMIB faces political pressure in recovering loans

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: MV Dali, SL authorities anchored in mystery?

Has Sri Lanka become a potential hub for the illegal wildlife trade?

Spotlight on Moragahakanda Development Project Moragolla villagers lose livelihoods and down to one meal a day

Ambitious Sri Lankan jobseekers ‘trafficked into Ukraine war zones’

Western purple-faced langurs see blue!

Most Viewed in News

April 15 declared a government holiday

Former MP Palitha Thewarapperuma dies from electrocution

New Visa procedure implemented

Sri Lanka defaults on USD 6 billion payment despite rising reserves: Patali

Confusion remains if April 15 is a bank holiday

Complaint lodged over Piumi Hansamali's possession of Gota’s Range Rover

MIRROR CRICKET

How does CSK get best out of Pathirana?

Mendis, Mathews move up in ICC Test Rankings

Chamodi, Dewmi spins Sri Lanka U19 Women to big win

Amir, Wasim return to Pakistan national team

TODAY'S HEADLINES

Tax payers poised to cough up Rs.45 million on another debate on Easter attack

Renovation of Anula Maha Seya Mahanayake of Malwatta Chapter requests President to revoke agreement

Court of Appeal orders reallocation of Hajj quotas

Former Deputy Minister Thewarapperuma passes away after being electrocuted

Mendis, Mathews move up in ICC Test Rankings

Security raised for Champions League ties after threat

SLA target four events at Paris Olympic Games

Chamodi, Dewmi spins Sri Lanka U19 Women to big win