Five technical colleges to be set up

COLOMBO: Five technical colleges are to be established under the Vocational Training Ministry. Decision was taken by Ministry officials at a meeting with vocational training Minister Piyasena Gamage.

The Technical Education and Vocational Training Department which spearheads the work has already taken over the necessary lands and buildings.

The Department acquired two buildings belonging to Wellawaya Economic Centre and allocated some lands in Katana and Negombo, Minister Piyasena Gamage told Lankapuvath

As the 2 1/2 acre land in Pitabeddara was not sufficient to put up a technical college, discussions were on in getting a block of five-acre land elsewhere in Horana, he said. The Akkaraipattu College which is already completed is conducting its Diploma Courses, the Minister said.

Minister Gamage said 25 rural vocational training centres are also to be set up and ten buildings have already been selected for this purpose. The Ministry has submitted the budget for setting up of 13 centres and is in the process of preparing the reports for the remainder.

Plans have been devised for the setting up of Technical University and converting the Technical Colleges to Technological Colleges with Japanese assistance.