Skills Expo 2025: Powering Sri Lanka’s future workforce in tourism

Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Minister and Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, TISC Chairman Sanath Ukwatte, SSDD Additional Secretary Himali Athauda

By Tania de Silva

The Tourism Industry Skills Council (TISC) is once again stepping up to the plate, announcing the much-anticipated Skills Expo 2025, a national conference and exhibition designed to bridge Sri Lanka’s skills gap and tackle youth unemployment head-on.

Following the success of its debut in 2023, this year’s event promises to be larger scale and even more impactful. Organised under the umbrella of the Industry Sector Skills Councils (ISSCs) and supported by the Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education Ministry, the expo will take place on 10–11 October, at the Temple Trees Convention Centre in Colombo. Doors open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with free entry for all.

Last year’s inaugural event, led by the Automobile Industry Skills Council, set the tone for a powerful national dialogue on skills development. The ISSCs, formed in 2016 under the guidance of the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC) and the National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority (NAITA), are industry-led, government-backed bodies tasked with identifying skills shortages, boosting workforce competency, and promoting vocational careers.

For a country where 22% of youth aged 15–24 face unemployment, the Skills Expo is such a lifeline. It’s also a platform for migrant returnees to update their skillsets and re-enter the workforce with confidence.

At the launch, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya said: “Technology is changing so fast, things are changing so fast. The kinds of human resources that are required are also constantly adapting and changing. So therefore we need an education system to be able to equip young people with adaptability, flexibility, understanding about the many options that are available in the world today, being familiar and comfortable with technology, all of these things, while also retaining within themselves a sense of humanity, integrity, good ethics, and what it means to be a good citizen in a democratic, pluralistic society.”

“All of this is part of what we are trying to deliver through education. This is a critical moment in our journey, in our education reform journey. So, I want to thank all of you here for this initiative and for your support and participation. It’s an extremely important, nationally important initiative.”

The Skills Expo 2025 will bring together a diverse mix of young people (15–40 years old), parents, educators, migrant workers, and industry leaders. Attendees can look forward to:

• Featuring senior Government officials and industry leaders, underscoring collaboration between key Ministries including Education, Defence, Finance, and Foreign Employment.
• Empowering future workforce through vocational skills, reflecting the crucial role of hands-on skills in driving national economic growth.
• Live demonstrations, cutting-edge booths from TVET institutions and industry partners, plus on-site career guidance.
• Real opportunities with employers conducting interviews on the spot.
• Deep dives into emerging industry trends, skills demand, and technology-led career paths.

The event will also highlight vocational training programs, showcase industry innovations, and share real-time job market data.

Skills Expo 2025 is powered by the Tourism Industry Skills Council alongside the Construction Industry Skills Sector Council (CISC), Information and Communication Technology Industry Sector Council (ICTISC), Manufacturing and Engineering Services Industry Skills Council (MESSCO), Agriculture Sector Skills Council (ASSC), and the National Council for Communication Skills in Health Care (SHRI).

Tourism Industry Skills Council Chairman Sanath Ukwatte said: “Sri Lanka faces a paradox, while unemployment remains high, industries are struggling to find skilled technicians and artisans. The real challenge is shifting our perception of vocational careers to meet this urgent demand.”

The event drew the presence of the Education Ministry Secretary Nalaka Kaluwawa, alongside senior officials from the Ministry and delegates representing the Industry Sector Skills Councils (ISSC).

-Pix by Shehan Gunasekera