SLITHM Chairman Shirantha Peiris 

• SLITHM Chief Shirantha Peiris says industry has below 40% workforce considered adequately qualified
• Describes situation similar to a double-edged sword 
• ADB grants Rs. 25 m strategic initiative to boost skilled labour pool 
• One month free-of-charge course includes compulsory one-year internship to obtain certificate 
• Partners with VTA for capacity-building efforts in 43 centres and 4 hotels 

Sri Lanka Tourism capacity building arm, Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (SLITHM) yesterday said the hospitality industry is grappling with a massive shortage of skilled workers amid the talent exodus post-economic crisis. 

“The hospitality industry today has below 40% of its workforce deemed adequately qualified,” SLITHM Chairman Shirantha Peiris told journalists yesterday. 

Describing the delicate, yet complex implications of the situation he likened it to a double-edged sword. “The workforce in the industry acts as a source of skilled talent contributing to the workers’ remittances as well as a crucial contributor of foreign exchange earnings via tourism. This is a delicate equilibrium that we are trying to achieve by working together with collective policy and stakeholder participation,” he said. 

He pointed out that the scarcity of trained personnel has been exacerbated by a significant exodus of workers seeking opportunities abroad for higher pay. 

“Although it has been the practice for many decades, a massive number have never gone out in such a short time,” he stressed. 

To combat this issue, Peiris said a collective effort is underway to implement measures to augment the skilled labour pool. 

He detailed a strategic initiative aimed at retaining workers, which involves comprehensive training for unskilled staff over one month through a short-term program. The training initiative is supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) with a grant of Rs. 25 million and seeks to provide participants with vital exposure to the sector. 

”The training course budget was beyond our means and ADB’s assistance helped us to offer free-of-charge. A certificate will be conferred after a compulsory one-year of service in the industry. This requirement is put in place to ensure a reciprocal commitment from beneficiaries to contribute to the country by dedicating a full year to the industry,” he added. 

The industry’s predicament stems from the necessity to employ untrained personnel and provide on-the-job training due to the substantial number of workers seeking opportunities abroad for higher remuneration. 

However, the SLITHM Chief said as the statutory body, they will team up with the Vocational Training Authority (VTA) to invest in workforce development and skill-building initiatives in 43 VTA centres and four hotels for capacity building in the hotel industry for sustained growth. Currently, 4,996 students are studying in SLITHM branches countrywide. 

As per the Foreign Employment Ministry, a total of 242,865 workers have migrated as of 24 October and 69,797 are skilled, 3,310 are semi-skilled, 73,908 are low-skilled and 12,409 are professionals.

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