Tourism sector vacancies in Batticaloa filled by outsiders:mayor

Due to a shortage of professionals in the field of tourism., 95 % of the vacancies for high posts in the field of tourism are filled by those coming from other districts

Since more than 5,650 youth dropped out of school after their G.C.E. O/L annually in the Batticaloa District, 95% of the employment opportunities for higher posts in the field of tourism were filled by those from other districts, Batticaloa Mayor Thiagaraja Saravanabawan said.

He said so at a competition held for the chefs at Kallady in Batticaloa on Saturday.

“Due to a shortage of professionals in the field of tourism., 95 % of the vacancies for high posts in the field of tourism are filled by those coming from other districts,” he said.

The Mayor said that in order to encourage tourism, the Batticaloa Municipal Council had initiated a project under the theme of, ‘1000 days project ; 1,000 employment opportunities’, in which 24 tourist centres had been formed with 1,000 job -opportunities, so that tourists who came to their district would stay two days, spending at least $1,000.

“Annually 46% of the students drop out after O/levels and due to lack of proper guidance they take to ordinary wage earning jobs. To avoid this, they should adopt alternate strategies. Therefore, tourism, which is an important aspect of economic development , should be developed so that it would become a field to absorb our youth both males and females to enhance their future,” he said.