Insee cement creates employable youth and sustainable livelihood in Puttalam
Sri Lankan cement manufacturer Insee cement spearheaded the renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Enterprise based Vocational Education (EVE) training centre and the National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority (NAITA) recently.
The agreement extending a period by five years was signed at Insee cement’s head office in Colombo. About the partnership INSEE cement CEO Nandana Ekanayake said, “We take pride in empowering our youth in the Puttalam area by giving them outstanding technical skills - a first step towards building independence and a sustainable livelihood. This will enhance their educational levels, increase their employability and give them a stable career path. The initiative will help to develop future technicians for the nation. At Insee cement we strongly believe in enriching the community particularly in areas where we do business”.
The two year program provides theory lessons for those who opt to benefit from the training and coaching provided by trainers from NAITA. The students; hailing from diverse backgrounds, receive English language and lessons in Information Technology along with relevant subjects including pneumatics, hydraulics, lathe/milling and Auto CAD, in addition to the National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) curriculum in their first year. In the second year, full-time practical training is provided at EVE Centre located in the Puttalam cement plant. The project was initiated in 2012 and has benefited over 165 students.
NAITA Chairman A. U. C. Athukorala, while talking about the collaboration said, “We are pleased to contribute to this national endeavour to upgrade the skills of youth in the Puttalam area. It is very creditable of Insee cement to engage in a program of this magnitude to develop and encourage the youth in the district that will generate value and long-lasting benefits to the community as well as the nation”.
The course is free of charge and the trainees receive a monthly allowance from Insee cement in addition to transport, meals and technical support. With the current intake being the ninth, the program has been a great success, having produced multiskilled maintenance technicians with exemplary computer skills. The initiative has undoubtedly uplifted the living standards of the youth in Puttalam and has inspired them to develop to their full potential.
Six lives were saved this year, thanks to AIA’S Poson safety programme. Now in its 24th consecutive year, the programme aims at protecting the lives of the throngs of pilgrims travelling to Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Dambulla for Poson.
Every year, AIA Insurance joins hands with the Sri Lanka Police, Sri Lanka Lifesaving, Civil Security Division and the Sri Lanka Navy in deploying lifeguards to watch over the reservoirs in the area, which are popular bathing and swimming spots. Over 200 lives have been saved due to this programme since its inception.
This year a total of 560 lifeguards were deployed around 22 lakes and reservoirs, for three days straight, to protect the pilgrims. Six lives were saved including that of an 11 year old school-boy. The others, all males, whose ages ranged from 29 to 50 were there with their families and friends, on the Poson pilgrimage.
“I got a second chance at life” said one of rescued pilgrims,
Printed and published by Wijeya Newspapers Ltd. on Tuesday June 27, 2017 at No. 8, Hunupitiya Cross Road, Colombo 02 adding “I have so many plans for my future and I can’t believe I almost lost it all. I am grateful to the people who saved me and gave me back my life and future.”
“We’ve just finished the 24th consecutive year of our Poson safety program and we’re glad to have played a part in saving over 200 lives since its inception” said AIA Chief Marketing Officer Nikhil Advani. He added “A death in the family is a tragic event and we do our utmost to make sure the pilgrims remain safe through a combination of awareness programmes, on site lifeguards and warning signs that are spread out all over Anuradhapura, Dambulla and Polonnaruwa. We’re grateful to our partners – Sri Lanka Lifesaving, Sri Lanka Police, Sri Lanka Navy and Civil Security Division who so enthusiastically support AIA’S Poson safety programme with their lifeguards each year to protect the lives of the pilgrims who visit lakes and reservoirs around the holy sites.”