Deputy Minister Nalin Hewage (MP) assumed duties as the Deputy Minister of Vocational Education today.

Mr. Nalin Hewage, appointed as the new Deputy Minister of Vocational Education of the government, officially commenced his duties today (22) in the morning at the Skills Development Center located in Narahenpita, in the presence of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.

Prominent attendees at this event included the new Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education, Dr. Madhura Seneviratne, Prime Minister’s Secretary Pradeep Saputhanthri, Secretary of the Ministry of Education Nalaka Kaluwawela, senior officials from the ministry, and heads of affiliated institutions.

Addressing the gathered audience, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya expressed the following thoughts:

“Our government is directing considerable attention towards the education sector. Under this, there is a particular focus on vocational education. We are working to change traditional vocational methodologies. Vocational education exists as a field for those who generally lose opportunities for higher education, and we are changing the traditional mindset surrounding it.”

The Prime Minister, who further expressed her views, stated that vocational technology should be transformed into a field of study that directly connects to the economy, extending from school education to higher education within our educational reforms, and that the impetus for such a change would occur both within society and the education sector, making it a subject that school children can choose in the future.

“In light of the significant public mandate received at this moment, including from the public service, the Prime Minister stated that they will respectfully implement a strategic change within the ministry that benefits the public.”

The views expressed here by the Deputy Minister of Vocational Education, Nalinda Hewage, were as follows:

“The government hopes to make a qualitative change in the education sector in line with the substantial public mandate provided for an immense transformation in the country. Although our land is limited, the scope of education is unlimited. We are working to bring a transformative change to vocational education within that.”

Further expressing her views, she noted that a significant percentage of foreign exchange earnings in Sri Lanka comes from jobs that do not require vocational skills through foreign employment. Instead, there is a great potential for our ministry to contribute to the country’s development by creating skilled workers trained with vocational skills, and she mentioned that the government expects collective responsibility and cooperation from everyone for this purpose.