COLOMBO, July 1 : Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development has launched a program to help young people who have completed drug rehabilitation enter permanent employment in the private sector, the ministry said Tuesday.
The program will be carried out with the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board, the Bureau of Rehabilitation and the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission. It aims to provide vocational training and connect rehabilitated youth with jobs in industries facing labor shortages.
Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunneththi said the private industrial sector has more than 400,000 vacancies and continues to face shortages of skilled and unskilled workers.
The minister said job opportunities are available in sectors such as construction, tiles and fittings, footwear, leather goods and automobiles, calling on officials to create a structured process to place rehabilitated youth in these industries after suitable training.
Officials said about 10,000 rehabilitated youth have already received vocational training in different fields. Around 800 people are rehabilitated each year through centers in Vavuniya, Senapura and Kandakadu before being reintegrated into society with vocational skills.
