Proposal for establishment of Advisory Board for revival of welding technology

Following is a letter to Ministry of Education Secretary Nalaka Kaluwewa and Ministry of Skills Development and Vocational Training Education Additional Secretary Himali Athaudage, advising the formation of an Advisory Board for the revival of welding technology in the vocational training sector

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Dear Sir/Madam, Proposal for the establishment of an Advisory Board for the revival of welding technology in Sri Lanka's vocational training sector

Background

At the recent Skills Expo Exhibition held at Temple Trees, an important discussion unfolded concerning the alarming and egregious decline in the quality and performance of welders produced by Sri Lanka's vocational training institutes, including TVEC, NAITA, VTA, and Technical Colleges.

The session, moderated by Mr. Manjula Vidanapathirana, Director of TVEC, revealed broad consensus among participants that the standard of welding graduates has significantly deteriorated over the last few decades, undermining both local industrial productivity and foreign employment prospects.

Present situation

Despite Sri Lanka's longstanding investment in vocational training infrastructure, the output quality of welders has failed to meet the needs of the manufacturing and construction sectors.

The situation has reached a critical stage, with local industries compelled to import welders from India and China, while foreign markets—including the UK, South Korea, Israel, Japan, the Middle East, Romania, Thailand, and Singapore—are actively recruiting qualified welders.

This shortfall is not new. As far back as 1999, during the Shell Terminal Project at Muthurajawela, Sri Lanka was compelled to import 250 welders from Gujarat, India due to the lack of skilled local manpower. Two decades later, the problem persists despite the expansion of vocational institutions. The local manufacturing and construction sectors are badly handicapped due to nonavailability of skilled welders.

Causative factors

An Australian research study on Sri Lanka's vocational training performance recently identified the following weaknesses in the country's welding education and training model:

■Insufficient theoretical foundation