Sri Lanka Tourism partners with VTA to conduct tourist driver training program

Sri Lanka Tourism Chairperson Kimarli Fernando with VTA Chairman Damitha Wickramasinghe 

Sri Lanka Tourism and Vocational Training Authority (VTA) signed an agreement this week to train drivers in the Tourism industry, enabling training programs to be conducted islandwide for tourist drivers; to enhance their skills and get suitable employment opportunities, both locally and overseas. Tourist drivers play a pivotal role in contributing to the Tourism Industry in transporting tourists, ensuring their safety and comfort. 

The Vocational Training Authority of Sri Lanka (VTA) was established on 16 August 1995, with the intent of providing skills for employment. Currently, the VTA is operating as the largest vocational training network with 186 Vocational Training Centres (VTC), 22 District Vocational Training Centres (DVTC) and 8 National Vocational Training Institutes (NVTI), which previously had just 31 Vocational Training Centres in 1995. 

“We reached out to the Vocational Training Authority (VTA) and are very pleased to sign this agreement that will now enable our industry stakeholders to have easy access to training islandwide. Tourism driver training is the first step taken in this regard and VTA’s wide branch network is very valuable, their expertise in training will support our strategic action plan to support the SME’s segment,” Sri Lanka Tourism Chairperson Kimarli Fernando shared.  Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority in collaboration with VTA will conduct several training sessions for tourist drivers in targeted Touristic areas such as Negombo, Chilaw, Colombo, Kalutara, Galle, Weligama, Mirissa, Hikkaduwa, Kataragama, Yala, Kandy, Ella, Nuwara Eliya and Bandarawela from 7 October to 20 November, which will provide them an immense opportunity to enhance their knowledge.

VTA Chairman Damitha Wickramasinghe shared, “Vocational Training Authority approximately trains 35,000 youth annually in 1,600 different programs, in 22 various trade sectors and we are happy to partner up with Sri Lanka Tourism on this initiative.”

The training is a four-day program (20 hours) and the cost per person is Rs. 5,000. At the end of the training, a joint certificate will be issued by SLTDA and VTA to the participant. For more information on the Tourist Driver Training program, please log on to: www.vtasl.gov.lk/program/program-details/