A felicitation ceremony of the Sri Lanka Vocational Training Authority in Galle..!

2025-02-11 16611

Sri Lanka Vocational Training Authority Chairman Engineer Vijitha Weeratunga stated in Galle on Sunday (09) that some employees of certain institutions who have nothing to do even during the week are working overtime on Saturdays, Sundays and even after 4.15 pm.

He emphasized that institutions with people who are living their lives are more efficient than institutions with people who are living their lives and that one should watch a movie or a drama with family occasionally. Mr. Vijitha Weeratunga stated this while addressing the ‘Fellowship Ceremony’ held at the Samoda Hall, Galle for the retirees of the Sri Lanka Vocational Training Authority in the Galle District during the past year.

At this felicitation ceremony, DKR Janapriya, who served as a Welding Instructor for 17 years, AG Gunawardena, who served as a Motor Mechanic Instructor for 28 years, PM Deeparani, who served as a Garment and Tailoring Instructor for 26 years, WK Sarath, who served as a Welding Instructor for 25 years, AL Sarath, who served as a Carpentry Instructor for 24 years, LC Kankaratne, who served as a High Speed Tailoring and Chef Instructor for 26 years, GGA Priyantha, who served as a Management Assistant for 23 years, and WLA Mallika, who served as an Office Assistant for 23 years, were felicitated. The award ceremony organized by the Galle District Welfare Association of the Vocational Training Authority provided a certificate of appreciation and a cash prize to the awardees.

Engineer Vijitha Weeratunga, who spoke further, said:

The Sri Lanka Vocational Training Authority is a major institution in technical education in our country. Established in 1995, this institution consists of major training institutions like Orugodawatta and Narahenpita. This institution is securing the future of many rural children who have difficulty going to the city. The academic and non-academic staff alone is close to 2000. In its 30-year history, the Vocational Training Authority has gifted more than 07 lakh technicians to the nation. It is hoped to increase the target to 40000 apprentices in one year. The foundation of all developed countries in the world is technical education. No country can develop without technical education. Countries like Germany, Japan, America, Britain, and China, which have realized this, have reached the current level.

Among these people who retired last year and are being felicitated today (09), there are 06 instructors. The other two are in the non-academic staff. They have trained children for 26-27 years and should truly be respected by the nation. Even if you retire from government service, do not think too much about the word retirement. You will return to home service. You should take steps to raise your children higher than where you left off. Even if you work in the field of technical education, you should not be like the machine you work for. People who live their lives are more efficient than people who live their lives. Watch a movie or a play with your family every now and then. Listen to a song. Read a novel. What they give to life is priceless.
Government institutions work 5 days a week. Some institutions do not have anything to do even 4 days a week. There is even a surplus of staff. But the employees of these institutions even work overtime on Saturdays and Sundays. They even work after 4.15 pm. Employees do not have to be dedicated. Rather than just getting a higher salary, what should be done is to work hard and earn income and increase their salaries. We know that the salaries of government employees are not enough to live on. But institutions as institutions do not have the power to make decisions about salaries. But we are working to raise the salaries of government employees as a policy. Since I assumed office as the Chairman of the Vocational Training Authority, I have had to spend most of my time resolving transfer issues. But I have to spend time on the needs of technical education.

The ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ program is a major project of the current government. It does not only mean cleaning gardens, fields, roads, and beaches. It is also important to create a complete human being. Only then can we create people who live a beautiful life in a rich country. We need everyone's contribution to take this country to that point. We request everyone to line up, take the lead and make a commitment for that. Sri Lanka Vocational Training Authority Director General Major General (Retd.) Priyantha Weerasinghe, Director (Training) Shanthi Edirisinghe, Deputy Directors Sarath Meddegoda, Nimalsiri Vidanagamage, Welfare Association Chairman Training Officer Ruwan Samarawickrama, Secretary Santoshani Karunaratne, Bhangarika Chamila Udayangani, members Nihal Withanage and Priyanthi Mayadunne also spoke here.