The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, under Standing Order 27(2), I raise questions to the Hon. Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education regarding confirming the operational status of the Sri Lanka-German Technical Training Institute in Kilinochchi.

¶ 02 Due to the over 30-year war that affected youth in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu Districts, the Sri Lanka-German Technical Training Institute was commenced at the Kilinochchi Knowledge City with German Government assistance of Rs. 800 million to provide vocational training for youth affected. I wish to bring the following to your attention regarding its current operational status.

¶ 03 To date, the Sri Lanka-German Technical Training Institute in Kilinochchi has not been recognized by Gazette notification. The permanent staff strength initially planned at 96 has now been reduced to 77, and since 2017 no permanent staff have been recruited; only 24% of cadre has been filled.

¶ 04 This Institute functioned under NAITA from 2016–2020. Now there are efforts to make it a branch of the Colombo German Technical Training Institute (CGTTI) instead of allowing it to function as an autonomous institution. This would cause administrative difficulties in systematizing and delivering courses on time, affecting the Institute’s reputation. Especially, since the Principal and Vice Principal are selected from the CGTTI staff and appointed on contract, the autonomy, leadership and specific skills needed are not adequately considered, undermining the Institute’s independent administration.

¶ 05 While the Colombo German Technical Training Institute functions as a high-quality institution offering international-standard programmes and certificates, the Kilinochchi Institute—started for war-affected youth of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu—continues with resource shortages. The very target group for whom it was started has been sidelined as persons from other regions gain admission, while students and officers from Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu are not given due priority, contributing to the Institute’s setbacks.

¶ 06 The student hostel construction started in 2021 has not been completed due to lack of funds. Currently, up to 180 students reside in the hostel building, but safety cannot be ensured. As an immediate solution for teacher shortages, temporary Tamil/Sinhala instructors have been appointed who do not know the other language, causing comprehension issues among students speaking other languages, leading to dissatisfaction and some dropouts. On 29.04.2025, during New Year events at the Institute, due to poor management, internal disputes escalated along ethnic lines and a teacher appointed by CGTTI assaulted Tamil students.

¶ 07 In this context, considering the importance of this Institute for our districts and the need for vocational skills development among Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu youth, I ask:

¶ 08 1. How many Tamil, Sinhala and Muslim students are currently being trained? In which courses are they enrolled? What courses are currently conducted?

¶ 09 2. Why has a Government Gazette recognizing the Kilinochchi Institute not been issued to date?

¶ 10 3. When will the longstanding shortages of physical resources and staff be remedied?

¶ 11 4. Based on its founding purpose, when will the basic facilities be provided for the Institute to continue in Kilinochchi as an independent, autonomous institution with its own centre? When will the Gazette notification recognizing the Institute be published?