Most in Colombo apply for jobs after O/L without pursuing higher studies
Most students in Colombo complete their Ordinary Level (O/L) examinations and apply for jobs instead of seeking higher education due to the shortcomings faced by them, Mayor Rosy Senanayake said.
Addressing the gathering at the inauguration ceremony of the new De Mel Park Multipurpose Community Centre in Colombo 02, the Mayor said the new community centre would provide facilities which will strengthen the livelihood of these children.
Accordingly, she said the new centre would facilitate training programmes and vocational training diplomas which would add value to the lives of these children and lend a hand for them to achieve their expectations.
In addition, the mayor said 60% of the Colombo population were low income dwellers in shanties and this new centre was built with the objective of strengthening these people.
“This building is built with many facilities including a kindergarten, a daycare centre which can accommodate more than 20 children, an auditorium which can accommodate more than 50 people, a computer training centre, a library for all age groups and a vocational training centre so that the people would be able to fulfill their various needs. This centre would create a children-friendly environment for the Wekanda Pre School. There is no doubt that this new centre would be a great source of strength to the Colombo population,” she said.
Moreover, she said they have planned to build 47 more of these multipurpose centre’s in areas within the city limits of Colombo as per a concept of hers.
The mayor said she had studied about the people of Colombo even before she was elected as the Mayor and the new centres were being built after identifying the needs of the people.
The new community centre was built under a partnership of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) with the John Keells Properties.
The funding for this project was provided by the John Keells Social Responsibility Foundation and building planning, procurement of equipment and management activities were carried out under the supervision of the CMC.