Landmark PPP initiative launched to train 20,000 youth for tourism sector

Dheera Hettiarachchi

Aruni Ranaraja PIC BY NISAL BADUGE

In a strategic move to address the escalating demand for skilled professionals in its booming tourism industry, the Sri Lankan government, in partnership with the private sector, yesterday launched the ‘Sathkaraye Shrama Sena – Hotel Operations Multitasker’ national programme. 

The national initiative, ceremoniously inaugurated at the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (SLITHM) auditorium in Colombo, aims to train and certify 20,000 young individuals, bridging a critical skill gap to meet the nation’s ambitious tourism goals.

The programme is a cornerstone of Sri Lanka’s strategy to expand its tourism workforce to 800,000 by 2030, a necessary step to support the national target of attracting five million tourists and generating US $ 10 billion in annual revenue by the same year.

This pioneering initiative operates on a robust public-private partnership (PPP) model, bringing together the SLITHM, Samurdhi Development Department and 35 franchised private and state-affiliated training institutes from across all districts. Under the collaboration, the Samurdhi Development Department will provide the financial assistance for the 20,000 trainees, primarily selected from the Samurdhi beneficiary families, directly linking national skill development with poverty alleviation and community empowerment.

Addressing the launch event, SLITHM Chairman Dheera Hettiarachchi highlighted the urgency of the programme. 

“To achieve our goal of five million tourists by 2030, we require a skilled workforce of 800,000. The industry currently employs approximately 421,000 directly and indirectly. The SLITHM alone cannot bridge this gap,” he stated. 

“This PPP model, a first of its kind for a nationally recognised NVQ Level 3 course, allows us to leverage the islandwide network of 35 partner institutions to scale up training and ensure the quality standards are met.”

The Hotel Operations Multitasker programme is designed to equip youth with a versatile skill set covering front office operations, housekeeping and food and beverage services, culminating in a nationally and internationally recognised NVQ Level 3 certification.

Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Ministry Secretary Aruni Ranaraja emphasised the programme’s alignment with the government’s economic vision.

“This programme is a critical investment in our country’s future. It not only provides essential human resources for our vital tourism sector but also serves as a powerful tool for social upliftment by creating sustainable employment opportunities,” she remarked. 

Ranaraja emphasised that the financial backing from the Samurdhi Department is pivotal to the programme’s mission of empowering the unemployed youth.

The programme structure integrates theoretical knowledge with crucial on-the-job training, ensuring the graduates are work-ready and can seamlessly integrate into the fast-growing small and medium-sized enterprise segment of the hospitality industry. The SLITHM will act as the chief franchisor, providing a training of trainers programme to its partners, to maintain a uniform, high-quality curriculum nationwide. 

(NF)