He mentioned this while participating in an observation visit   (18th December) to assess the quality of studies in the LIGHTING DIGITAL information technology training bootcamp, which began at Avissawella Batangala Youth Training Center.

 

About 180 young people from Kegalle district participated in this residential training camp organized by The Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka. During this occasion, the State Minister of Technology Mr. Kanaka Herath had a casual meeting with the students of the training camp.

 

He then addressed the media stating that there are approximately 20,000 IT job openings in the public and private sectors. Further, he stated that it is the Ministry of Technology's responsibility to mobilize the young people required for this industry. Hence, to meet the needs of the industry, information technology will be introduced as an A-level subject in the arts stream. For this, with the assistance of UNICEF, 700 teachers are given training in information technology, NVQ syllabuses are revised as required by the job market throughout tertiary education, the development of an overall digital education policy has begun, approximately 50,000 people work directly in the field of information technology, they have also made significant contributions to the country's ability to earn foreign currency.

 

Mr. Kanaka Herath, State Minister of Technology, added that 34,000 youths will be directed to the field in 2023 through the implementation of LIGHTING DIGITAL IT training bootcamps at the district level.

 

Mr. Sudath Manjula, Kegalle District Member of Parliament, Mr. Damidu Shamindra, the Chairman of the Dehiovita Pradeshiya Sabha, Mr. Kasun Tharaka, Senior Manager – Capacity Building at the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka were present for this observation visit along with other officials from ICTA.