Opposition slams merging Vocational Training and Industry Ministries

The Government proposal to merge the Skills Development and Vocational Training Ministry with the Industry and Commerce Ministry attracted criticism yesterday in Parliament, with the Opposition questioning the practicality of connecting training with a Ministry that has no link to education.  

Highlighting the questionable move to bring vocational education under the industries and commerce sector, the Opposition lawmakers disapproved the Government’s alleged efforts to take out the vocational training from its independent status and attaching it with a Ministry that has no relevance to education.

United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) MP Bandula Gunawardana raised objections, highlighting the move, which he said would not help to develop tertiary education. “This is happening for the first time in history. It is an extraordinary development we never expected. This can cause irreversible damage to the country. The students who seek tertiary education will be troubled. Don’t ruin these institutions for political reasons,” he said.

According to the Gazette, Minister Rishard Bathurdeen will have an amended portfolio which will include Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Resettlement of Protracted Displaced Persons, Co-operative Development and Vocational Training and Skills Development. 

In response, Minister of Agriculture, Rural Economic Affairs, Livestock Development, Irrigation and Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development P. Harrison pledged to take this issue to the Cabinet. (AH)