Fonterra Brands Lanka pioneers first National Competency Standard for dairy industry machine operators

FONTERRA Brands Lanka, in collaboration with the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC), the National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority (NAITA), the Department of Labour and eight other dairy industry peers, introduced Sri Lanka’s first National Competency Standard tailored for dairy machine operators.

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The eight industry participants include Milco Ltd., Maliban Milk Products Ltd., Richlife Dairies Ltd., Ceylon Cold Stores PLC, Chello Dairy Products Ltd., Nestlé Lanka Ltd., Pelwatte Dairy Industries Ltd., and Lion Brewery (Ceylon) PLC.

The Competency Standard handover ceremony was graced by Vocational Education Deputy Minister Nalin Hewage, marking a landmark moment in the country’s vocational education landscape. This initiative reflects a shared commitment to formalising skills within the dairy sector and empowering experienced machine operators who have worked for many years with high skill levels but without any recognised qualification. Developed over a year, the Competency Standard was designed, funded, and validated through a multi-stakeholder effort, positioning the dairy industry as a proactive contributor to national skills development.