DIMO Automobile Training School (DATS) Graduation

Friday, 22 June 2012 02:37 -     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The graduation ceremony of the DATS was held at the Cinnamon Lakeside on 28 May. This included graduation of students from both Colombo and Jaffna training schools. The guest of honor was Chargé d’ Affaires – Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany Marja Einig. Mercedes-Benz was represented by Vocational Policies and Workforce Development in Stuttgart Manager Bernd Weisschuh.

The graduates from left: Donald De Silva, Bernd Weisschuh, Marja Einig, Ranjith Pandithage and Gahanath Pandithage

DIMO was represented by Chairman and Managing Director Ranjith Pandithage, CEO Gahanath Pandithage, Head of DATS Donald De Silva, the board of directors and the general management committee of DIMO. Parents and well wishers of the students who graduated were also present at the occasion.

DATS is a state-of-the-art automobile training school managed by Diesel and DIMO under the guidance of Daimler AG, Germany. It is a one-of-a-kind privately owned institute where the curriculum is set by Mercedes-Benz and the students are exposed to the most modern automobile technologies in the world.

DATS offers students a professional learning atmosphere with industry standard equipment and qualified lecturers, which provides budding automotive enthusiasts the perfect foundation for an aspiring career in the field of automotive engineering.

DATS is located at Siyambalape where the commercial vehicle and construction machinery service facility of DIMO is located. DATS started in 1990 and undertakes 16 trainees per batch, to undergo a two-year training course; absolutely free. With a history of more than two decades behind them, DATS has produced 230 graduates. The training school staff comprises of six lecturers, including the principal.

DATS training facilities include latest E-Class and B-Class cars for practical study and an e-learning centre. This project is considered as a CSR initiative by DIMO, where talented young men and women are given the opportunity to follow the advanced studies in automobile engineering – absolutely free.

DIMO created history by being the first automobile company to establish itself in Jaffna following the ending of the separatist war, and became the only company to setup a training school in post-war Jaffna in 2010. This was developed as an extension of the Colombo DATS School. Sixteen Tamil youth were selected from Jaffna for this training, some who were directly exposed to the war. The first batch of Jaffna DATS passed out at the graduation ceremony at Cinnamon Lakeside. Jaffna DATS School has three lecturers, including the principal. These training courses are registered with TVEC and are recognised as NVQ Level Four. Successful students receive a DIMO Mercedes-Benz certificate at the end of each course, recognised by all leading automobile related organisations.

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