SLACMA in new initiative with government to drive sustainable mobility

Industry collaboration to foster a qualified and skilled workforce to meet future demands

The Sri Lanka Automotive Component Manufacturers’ Association (SLACMA) and the officials of the Skills Development, Vo c a t i o n a l E d u c a t i o n , R e s e a r c h a n d Innovations State Ministry met recently to discuss ways and means of creating high-tech job opportunities through the development of the automobile industry in Sri Lanka.

The discussion, which viewed the possibilities of adapting to ensure the global demand for more sustainable, accessible and efficient mobility in the years to come, considered crucial points such as the extent to which autonomous vehicles (AVS) contribute to reducing local pollution and decarbonising the transport sector, how they will limit the number of cars on the road and the amount of space they use and whether they will improve accessibility for all and help to cut mobility costs.

SLACMA President Dimantha Jayawardena commenting on the initiative said, “We expect to meet the president in the near future to discuss the formulation of government policy for the development of this industry over the next 10 years. It is imperative that we qualify and train our workforce to be capable of meeting the market demands. Therefore, the partnership between the SLACMA and Skills Development, Vocational Education, Research and Innovations Ministry is one of the most progressive steps that have been taken towards building the automotive component industry in Sri Lanka.”

He added, “Although the automotive industry in Sri Lanka has a history of nearly 60 years, there is a large sum of foreign exchange spent annually on i mporting vehicles. What is now seen in Sri Lanka is only the maintenance and servicing of vehicles. There are many foreign companies looking forward to starting vehicle assembly plants in Sri Lanka and we ought to be ready with the necessary skill, qualification and standards to be able to stand on par with other international players.”

Among those present at the meeting were officials from the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC), Technical Education and Training Department, National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority (NAITA), Vocational Training Authority and Ceylon German Technical Training Institute.

Following the meeting, it was decided that the institutions under the ministry, which provide training in the field of automobile engineering and the 65 manufacturing institutions that are members of the SLACMA, would organise a oneday workshop to foster cooperation among the institutions.

The TVEC and NAITA will also update the curricula relating to the National Competency Standards (NCS) prepared by the TVEC in respect of identified subjects. It was also decided that the services of experts in motor engineering from the SLACMA would be secured to establish new competency standards, where such standards do not exist in respect of identified new job opportunities.

It has also been decided to obtain training facilities for the various advisors from the different training institutes to communicate the syllabuses to the students. This training will be sought from the Automotive Research

Association of India (ARAI). On-the-job training for the students will be secured from member institutions of the SLACMA.

The students who have completed the Software Development Training Course at the NAITA will also have the services of the SLACMA representatives during a meeting organised, when they will be introduced to entrepreneurs.

NAITA strives to meet the goals of the government of Sri Lanka by providing a competent and confident professional workforce, conforming to the industrial requirements and standards. It is t he primary state institution with the capacity to provide industry acceptable technical and vocational training in different disciplines for youth throughout the island and has facilities for industrial and institutional-based training with comprehensive and modern training facilities and techniques.

The TVEC was established in 1991 under the Tertiary and Vocational Education Act No. 20 of 1990 and reconstituted as a statutory body by the TVE (Amendment) Act. No 50 of 1999. The major objectives of the TVEC are policy development, planning, co-ordination and development of the tertiary education and vocational education at all levels, in keeping with the human resource needs of the economy and the development and maintenance of a nationally recognised system for the award of tertiary and vocational education certificates and t he development and maintenance of academic and training standards for all TVE training providers.

The SLACMA plays a major role in policymaking related to automotive component manufacturing in the country. It also encourages and enhances t he development of the automobile component parts industry.