The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) with the assistance of the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC) has prepared a Vocational Education Training Plan (VET Plan) for the Electrical and Electronics sector (EEC sector) in Sri Lanka to identify the skill gaps and training required to satisfy EEC sector needs to develop the Electrical and Electronics industry to support the national export drive. This was jointly funded by the EDB and the TVEC. The Sri Lanka Electronic Manufacturers and Exporters Association (SLEMEA) also extended their support in preparing this report.
Sri Lanka Electronics and Electrical sector has been identified as a key sector in National Export Strategy. This industry is placed as the seventh largest merchandise export revenue earner (0.012% of world exports) of the country and with more than 85 companies and over 35000 employees. This sector mainly caters for Automobiles, Telecommunication, Consumer Electronics, Industrial Automation and Medical Sector. Most of the companies are Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and Electronics Manufacturing Service (EMS) produces.
The previous VET plan was developed by TVEC in 2012, only addressing the domestic industry sector. Hence, with the assistance of the EDB, the TVEC updated the VET plan for 5 years from 2021-2025 for the Electronics and Electrical Manufacturing and export Industry to address the overwhelming shortage of manual workers by encouraging youth to pursue education in this sector. This report has identified the supply and demand for skills in local and foreign employment, skills gaps and training needs, skill analysis and future trends, monitoring and implementation plan for the next 5 years. This will improve the supply of semi-skilled and skilled professionals to satisfy the Electronics and Electrical Manufacturing sector’s needs to build sales and profits of the industry to support the national export drive. In this process, the industry look forward to build a dynamic pool of human resources, strengthened by academic and professional capabilities as stipulated in the National Export Strategy (NES).
The report was presented to Mr. Suresh Dayanath de Mel, Chairman and Chief Executive of The Sri Lanka Export Development Board, and Mr. Manjulal Waas, President of Sri Lanka Electronic Manufacturers and Exporters Association (SLEMEA), on 9th July 2021 at the EDB.
The EDB will to work closely with TVEC to address the current shortages in the industry and human resources requirements for technical, craft and operational occupations at entry-level for the next five years through this study for the betterment of the Sri Lankan Electronics and Electrical Sector.
