Fonterra pioneers SL’s National Competency Standard for dairy industry machine operators

Fonterra Brands Lanka, in collaboration with the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC), National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority (NAITA), Labour Department and eight other dairy industry peers, including Milco (Pvt) Ltd, Maliban Milk Products (Pvt.) Ltd, Richlife Dairies Limited, Ceylon Cold Stores PLC, Chello Dairy Products (Pvt.) Ltd, Nestlé Lanka Limited, Pelwatte Dairy Industries Ltd and Lion Brewery (Ceylon) PLC, has officially handed over Sri Lanka's first National Competency Standard tailored for dairy machine operators.

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The 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.