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MOU with Australian Government funded Skills for Inclusive Growth Programme
The Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC) has entered into an MOU with the Australian Government funded Skills for Inclusive Growth Programme (S4IG), managed by Palladium International Group to increase collaboration to strengthen skills development in tourism.S4IG is a skills development programme of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) implemented in Sri Lanka in accordance with the terms of a Subsidiary Agreement signed on 31 March 2022 between DFAT and the Sri Lankan State Ministry of Skills Development, Vocational Training, Research & Innovations.
Parties agreed on the national implementation of the landmark TVEC Reasonable Adjustment Circular, guidelines, and tools to increase accessibility and skill recognition for people with disabilities, as well as the delivery of a training module to TVEC assessors. In addition, it was agreed that an Inclusion Toolkit will be created for use in assessor trainings and assessments in selected occupations.Data from the National Census of 2012 indicates a disability prevalence rate of 8.7%, with only 45% of youth with disabilities aged 15-19 years old attending upper secondary (grades 10 and 11) and collegiate (grades 12 and 13) levels. As a result, this segment of the population remains largely excluded from the labour market; 71% of adults with disability being economically inactive. The TVET system offers a solution to address the higher unemployment rate and low level of education among people with disabilities.
While historically people with disabilities are mainly enrolled in separate schools for education and vocational training, the recent policies issued by TVEC explicitly promotes training of persons with disabilities within mainstream vocational training institutes and support the transformation and incorporation of disability specific TVET programmes into NVQ framework. While enrolment of persons with disabilities in NVQ training courses remains so far limited, the circular aims to specifically remove assessment related barriers people with disabilities may face in the TVET system. This cooperation will support TVEC who is leading system changes to improve participation rates and ensuring all Sri Lankans are getting access to quality vocational training and access to employment.
TVEC will now enable the accreditation of S4IG-developed training courses/modules developed in collaboration with the tourism industry, government, and private hospitality-related training institutes. This will support TVEC to create International Standard curricula.The MOU formalizes the recognition of prior learning (RPL) and upskilling of existing personnel in the hospitality sector to enhance the skills of chefs and kitchen operations staff and enables work-based and online assessment tools developed for the micro, small, and medium enterprises to be scaled out across Sri Lanka. The TVEC website will now incorporate online flexible learning opportunities in the tourist and hospitality industries.S4IG will support TVEC in creating tools for all district coordination committees to identify skills gaps and eliminate local skill mismatches to produce the needed skills for local economic development. This planning tool kit will strengthen TVEC leadership in guiding training provision that is responsive to local employment opportunities and stimulate inclusive economic growth.
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Heat index is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Monaragala, Hambantota, Jaffna, Mullaittivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Kurunegala districts
Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. 26 April 2025, valid for 27 April 2025.
The public are warned that the Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Monaragala, Hambantota, Jaffna, Mullaittivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Kurunegala districts.
The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.
Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.
ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated. Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.
Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath represented Sri Lanka at the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday [26]
Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe will appear before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption (CIABOC) tomorrow (28) over the statement he had made on MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake, his lawyers have informed the Commission.
Accordingly, the former President will appear before the commission at 9.30am on Monday.
Wickremesinghe was initially summoned by the Commission to CIABOC on April 17 in relation to a statement he had made about the corruption case filed against NDF (gas cylinder) MP Dassanayake.
In response to the previous summons, Wickremesinghe had indicated that he is prepared to appear before the commission but requested a different date citing that his lawyers will not be available in Colombo during the New Year holiday period.
Accordingly, a new was provided and Wickremesinghe requested to appear before the commission at 09.30 a.m. on Thursday (April 25).On April 7, Wickremesinghe had said that MP Dassanayake withdrew the fixed deposits belonging to the Uva Provincial Council, over which he is now facing corruption charges, in accordance with a circular issued during Wickremesingher’s tenure as Prime Minister.
The former President questioned whether the MP’s arrest over the matter was in response to Dassanayake’s vocal criticism of the government in parliament.
The sitting MP is currently in remand custody for allegedly misappropriating a sum of Rs. 1 million of the Uva Provincial Council in 2016.
He was taken into custody on March 27, over three separate corruption-related cases.
The Colombo Magistrate’s Court previously granted bail in the cases filed against him but he remains in remand custody due to an order issued by the Badulla Magistrate’s Court.
According to the CIABOC, Dassanayake had solicited funds from three state banks, claiming they were intended to provide bags for preschool children in the province.
Two banks complied, granting him Rs. 1 million and Rs. 2.5 million, which were later transferred to his foundation account.
However, when a third bank refused to provide funds, Dassanayake reportedly retaliated by withdrawing the Uva Provincial Council’s fixed deposits from that institution.The CIABOC filed a case against the MP, citing the government incurred a financial loss of Rs. 17.3 million due to his actions.
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