Sri Lanka Tourism and Vocational Training Authority (VTA) signed an agreement last week to train drivers involved in the tourism industry which will enable training programmes to be conducted islandwide to tourist drivers to enhance their skills and get suitable employment opportunities both locally and overseas since tourist drivers play a pivotal role in contributing to the tourism industry in transporting tourists, ensuring their safety and comfort.
The 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 eight National Vocational Training Institutes (NVTIs); it previously had just 31 VTCs in 1995.
“We reached out to the Vocational Training Authority and are very pleased to sign this agreement that will now enable our industry stakeholders to have easy access to trainings islandwide. Tourism driver training is the first step taken in this regard and VTA’s wide branch network is very valuable and their expertise in training will support our strategic action plan to support the SME segment,” Sri Lanka Tourism Chairperson Kimarli Fernando shared.
The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) in collaboration with the 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 2020 which will provide them an immense opportunity to enhance their knowledge.
VTA Chairman Damitha Wickramasinghe shared: “Te Vocational Training Authority approximately trains 35,000 youths annually in 1,600 different programmes in 22 various trade sectors and we are happy to partner up with Sri Lanka Tourism on this initiative.”
Furthermore, the training is a four-day programme (20 hours) and the cost per person is Rs. 5,000. At the end of the training, a joint certificate will be issued by the SLTDA and VTA to the participant.
For more information on the tourist driver training programme please log on to: www.vtasl.gov.lk/program/program-details/
Training schedule
| No. | Date | Targeted main touristic areas | Training location |
| 1 | 7-9 Oct. | Negombo/Chilaw | Negombo |
| 2 | 14-16 Oct. | Colombo/Kalutara Dambulla | Narahenpita Dambulla |
| 3 | 21-23 Oct. | Galle/Weligama/Mirissa/Hikkaduwa | Ahangama |
| 4 | 4-6 Nov. | Kataragama/Yala | Hambantota |
| 5 | 11-13 Nov. | Kandy | Peradeniya |
| 6 | 18-20 Nov. | Ella, Nuwara Eliya, Bandarawela | Nuwara Eliya |