INSEE Cement partners with NEDA and NAITA

NEDA Chairman Rakitha Bogallagama (Second from left) and INSEE Cement, Sri Lanka Executive Vice President and Marketing and Sales Director Jan Kunigk  and NAITA Chairman Dr. Saranga Alahapperuma hold the tripartite agreement after signing it under the patronage of Minister of Science, Technology, Research, Skills Development and Vocational Training and Kandyan Heritage Dr. Sarath Amunugama Deputy Minister Karunarathna Paranawithana.  INSEE Cement, Sri Lanka Channel Development and Activation Manager Chandana Nanayakkara (extreme left) is also present

• Initiative to facilitate first-ever NVQ-certified skill and knowledge development program for masons countrywide

INSEE Cement has signed a momentous tripartite agreement with the National Enterprise Development Authority (NEDA) and the National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority (NAITA) on 2 August, to launch Sri Lanka’s pioneering certified skill and knowledge development program for masons. The agreement was formalised in the presence of Minister of Science, Technology, Research, Skills Development and Vocational Training and Kandyan Heritage Dr. Sarath Amunugama.

In INSEE Cement’s bid to further advance Sri Lanka’s construction industry standards through the development of knowledge and craftsmanship, the program will present a Level 3 National Vocational Qualification (NVQ3) upon successful completion. 

“As an authorised qualification, this masonry NVQ3 certificate offers great credibility to the participants, while at the same time creating an opportunity to further their career and education,” stated NAITA Chairman Dr. Saranga Alahapperuma. “We are excited to roll out the program together with INSEE Cement and NEDA, and hope to continue in similar future endeavours.”

With the signing of this agreement, INSEE Cement will conduct full-day knowledge sharing sessions following a pre-assessment carried out by NAITA at the onset of the training. Multiple sessions will be conducted over the course of one year across Sri Lanka, with new groups of 100 masons identified by NEDA participating at each session covering total of 4,500 masons nationwide. 

“Through this authorised NVQ3 qualification, not only are we addressing the skilled labour shortage in Sri Lanka, but we are also ensuring these masons gain job-specific practical training,” stated INSEE Cement Executive Vice President and Marketing and Sales Director Jan Kunigk. “Our overarching objective is to elevate the local construction industry standards by empowering Sri Lankans across the industry, building brighter futures through capacity development.” 

As a market leader with industry knowledge and expertise accumulated across five decades of operation, INSEE will provide top resource personnel with up-to-date insight and information, accelerating the progress of the local labour force towards proficient masonry levels. 

National Enterprise Development Authority Chairman/Director General Dakshitha Bogollagama added, “We are thrilled to be part of a great initiative in partnership with INSEE Cement and NAITA, to enable and encourage masons to explore new avenues of income generation through entrepreneurial ventures in construction. We look forward to collaborate with INSEE Cement and NAITA in the future, to continue this revolutionary journey.” 

Following the completion of the training, NAITA will conduct a practical assessment for participants by sponsoring the administrative resources and expertise, with INSEE Cement sponsoring all practical material. The successful completion of both training and practical assessment qualifies the participating masons to receive their NVQ3 certification. 

INSEE Cement, Sri Lanka also known as Siam City Cement (Lanka) is a member of the Siam City Cement Public Company Ltd., a leading cement manufacturer in Southeast Asia, founded in 1969 in Thailand. INSEE Cement Sri Lanka is the only fully integrated cement manufacturer in the country. The company manufactures INSEE branded cement – Sanstha, Mahaweli Marine, Mahaweli Marine Plus, INSEE Rapid Flow, INSEE Rapid Flow Plus and INSEE Extra cement. 

Further, INSEE Cement Sri Lanka will manufacture INSEE Concrete (Ready Mixed) soon, and currently imports and sells Conwood, popular product in Thailand and Indonesia as a concrete-based replacement for wood. INSEE Cement’s flagship brand Sanstha Cement, was the first “Green cement product” in the country to receive the green labelling certification from the Green Building Council, Sri Lanka. INSEE Cement Sri Lanka owns subsidiaries – Mahaweli Marine Cement Ltd. and INSEE Ecocycle Lanka Ltd. The parent company, Siam City Cement Public Company Ltd. serves the construction needs of the region. Its cement manufacturing facility in Saraburi, Thailand, is the world’s largest cement production complex. Siam City Cement PCL draws from the accumulated expertise and knowledge of over decades of operation and is strongly focused on investing in rapidly advancing regional markets such as Sri Lanka, which show great promise in sustainable construction. The Siam City Cement Public Company has its regional market footprint in Cambodia, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand, in addition to Sri Lanka.