Member Since 1973

Partner Ministry/Organization
Skills Development, Vocational Education, Research & Innovation Division, Ministry of Education

Address of Embassy in Manila
Sri Lankan Embassy in Manila
7th Floor G.C. Corporate Plaza Building
150 Legaspi Street, Legaspi Village
Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines

Participation in Regional Programs (2018-2023)
  • Regional Program on Navigating the Future of TVET: Addressing Challenges and Fostering Positive Change, December 4-6, 2023, Santa Rosa, Laguna, Philippines, in collaboration with Toyota Motor Philippines Foundation, Inc. (TMPF); Toyota Motor Philippines School of Technology (TMP Tech)
  • Regional Program on Empowering TVET Sector through Digitalization and Climate Resilient Skills for Sustainable Development, October 16-20, 2023, Manila, Philippines, in collaboration with Asian Development Bank (ADB)
  • Regional Program on Revolutionalize TVET: Innovation in Transformational Pedagogy, Competency Building and International Collaboration, October 2-5, 2023, Johor, Malaysia, in collaboration with Universiti Tun Hussein Onn (UTHM); and Malaysia Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training (MyRIVET)
  • Regional Program on Role of Business Incubators in Encapsulating Sustainable Development: A TVET Perspective, September 4-8, 2023, Chandigarh, India, in collaboration with National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research (NITTTR)-Chandigarh
  • Regional Program on Leadership for Sustainable TVET and Senior Executive Conference for CPSC Strategic Plan 2023-2028, December 12-16, 2022, Bangkok, Thailand, in collaboration with Office of Vocational Education Commission (OVEC)
  • 2022 CPSC-BFIC Busan Global Training Program on Digital and Infrastructure Transformation on Engineering, Design and Pedagogy in TVET: Smart City Transportation with ITS Model (Phase 1), November 14-18, 2022, Online, in collaboration with Busan Foundation for International Cooperation (BFIC)
  • Regional Program on TVET Strategic Planning and Experts' Meeting for the CPSC Strategic Plan 2023-2028, November 7-11, 2022, Shah Alam, Malaysia, in collaboration with Department of Polytechnic and Community Colleges (DPCCE)
  • Regional Program on Developing Context Based Vocational Pedagogy, April 26-30, 2021, Online RP
  • Regional Program on Innovation in TVET Management, March 22-26, 2021, Online RP
  • Regional Program on Innovation in Curriculum Development Integrating ICT and Digital Skills,
    February 15-19, 2021, Online RP
  • Regional Program on Innovating TVET by Developing Digital Contents Using ICT Tools,
    February 1-5, 2021, Online RP
  • Regional Program on Greening TVET for Sustainable Development, December 14-18, 2020, Online RP
  • Regional Program on Strategic Plan Development to Ensure Quality Management System,
    November 23-27, 2020, Online RP
  • Regional Program on Effective Methods of TVET Curriculum Development to Integrate 21st Century Skills, September 21-25, 2020, Online RP
  • Regional Program on Equipping Digital Competencies in TVET to Address IR 4.0, August 24-28, 2020, Online RP
  • Regional Program on Strengthening TVET Quality and Relevance through Institute-Industry Linkages,
    March 2-6, 2020, Pokhara, Nepal, in collaboration with Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT)-Nepal
  • Regional Program on Equipping Future Workforce with 21st Century and Technopreneurship Skills through Quality TVET Programs, February 2-6, 2020, Dhaka, Bangladesh, in collaboration with Institution of Diploma Engineers (IDEB)-Bangladesh
  • Regional Program on Quality Assurance in TVET and APACC Strategic Planning, October 21-25, 2019,
    Manila, Philippines
  • Regional Program on Skilling TVET in the Era of Industrial Revolution 4.0, August 25-29, 2019,
    Manila, Philippines
  • Regional Program on Sustainable (Green) Skills and Employability through TVET, April 22-26, 2019,
    Manila, Philippines
  • Regional Program on Entrepreneurship in TVET and International Conference on Skilling for Self-Employment, February 18-22, 2019, Chandigarh, India, in collaboration with National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research (NITTTR)-Chandigarh
  • Regional Program on Quality and Sustainable TVET and International Conference on Skills in TVET for Sustainability, October 8-10, 2018, Chennai, India, in collaboration with National Institute of Technical Teachers' Training and Research (NITTTR)-Chennai
  • Regional Program on TVET for Socio-Economic Transformation and International Conference on Innovations in TVET for Socio-Economic Development, October 1-3, 2018, Kathmandu, Nepal, in collaboration with the Diploma Engineers Association (DEAN)-Nepal; and Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT)

Recent Programs Held (2018-2023)
2023:
  • Training of Trainers on Renewable Energy System using Virtual TVET (November 20-23)
  • In-Country Program on Leadership and Management of TVET Institute (December 11-15)

2022:
  • Training of Trainers on Electrical Basics Using Virtual TVET (November 7-10)

2021:
  • Training of Trainers on Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Using Virtual TVET (December 6-9)

2019:
  • In-Country Program on Development of Curriculum Integrating Technopreneurship (June 17-21)

2018:
  • In-Country Program on Organizational Strengthening through Strategic Direction (June 18-22)

Country Flag


Official Name
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

Land Area
65,610 km²

Country Borders
India (north)

Capital
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte (Legislative Capital)
Colombo (Executive and Judicial Capital)

Religion
Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Christianity

Language
Sinhala, Tamil

Demonym
Sri Lankan

National Holiday
4 February 1948 (Separation from the United Kingdom)

Photo courtesy of The Borgen Project

No. of Years - Primary Education
5 years

No. of Years - Junior Secondary School
4 years

No. of Years - Senior Secondary Education
2 years

No. of Years - Tertiary Education (Bachelor's)
3 to 4 years

Ministry of Supervising Education
Ministry of Education Sri Lanka

Logo of the Ministry of Education

Agency Handling TVET
State Skills Development, Vocational Education, Research & Innovation Division, Ministry of Education

TVET System
As anchored by the education system in Sri Lanka, the formal TVET system follows these levels which are offered in selected training centers and institutions:
  • National Vocational Qualifications 1-4 (Certificate) (ISCED 4)
  • National Vocational Qualifications 5-6 (Diploma and Higher Diploma) (ISCED 5)
  • National Vocational Qualification 7 (Degree) (ISCED 6)

Source: UNESCO-UNEVOC


Qualification Framework
The National Vocational Qualifications Framework of Sri Lanka (NVQSL) is the key in unifying technical and vocational education and training. Its aim is to ensure that existing and new TVET activities are coordinated. The National Competency Standards (NCS) are prepared in consultation with the industry and curricula, trainer guides, trainee guides and assessment resources are prepared based on the NCS. A competency standard is a document defining competency units pertaining to skills, standards and activities related to acquiring relevant knowledge, competencies and attitudes. Competency units are identified based on industry requirements in a particular occupation.
Assessments are competency-based and the system is benchmarked against qualification systems in developed countries. Competency-based training curricula and related training, learning and assessment materials are included in the framework, together with requirements for registration and accreditation of training providers and their courses.

Level of NVQSL

Source: UNESCO-UNEVOC


TVET Financing
TVET in Sri Lanka is funded by public expenditure, including contributions from non-governmental organizations (NGOs). There are also donors and grants from development partners. At the same time, all full time courses in public training providers are offered free of charge while students receive a stipend for selected courses.

Tea, Export in Sri Lanka
Photo courtesy of Arab News

GDP
-7.8% (2022)
Source: International Monetary Fund

Currency
Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR)

Major Exports
Tea ($1.34B)
Other Women's Undergarments ($690M)
Knit Women's Undergarments ($624M)
Knit Women's Suits ($553M)
Non-Knit Women's Suits ($516M)

Major Imports
Refined Petroleum ($2.2B)
Light Rubberized Knitted Fabric ($1.01B)
Broadcasting Equipment ($585M)
Semi-Finished Iron ($459M)
Crude Petroleum ($432M)

Major Export Partners
United States ($3.21B)
India ($1B)
United Kingdom ($964M)
Germany ($877M)
Italy ($606M)

Major Import Partners
China ($5.48B)
India ($4.87B)
United Arab Emirates ($1.54B)
Singapore ($808M)
Malaysia ($797M)

H.E. Ranil Wickremesinghe, President of Sri Lanka
Photo courtesy of Office of the President in Sri Lanka

Type of Government
Unitary Semi-Presidential Constitutional Republic

Head of State
His Excellency Ranil Wickremesinghe
President of Sri Lanka

Head of Government
His Excellency Ranil Wickremesinghe
Prime Minister

Branches of Government
The Legislature
The Executive
The Judiciary

Celebration of Sinhalese and Tamil New Year
Photo courtesy of Cinnamon Hotels

Literacy Rate
92.38% (2020)

Country Code
+94

ISO Code
LK

Internet TLD
.lk

Other Important Holidays
Tamil Thai Pongal Day (Every end of winter solstice)
Mahasivarathri Day (February 18)
Sinhala and Tamil New Year’s (Beginning of New Lunar Year)
Deepavali Festival Day


References
  • https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-report-on-international-religious-freedom/sri-lanka/
  • https://unevoc.unesco.org/wtdb/worldtvetdatabase_lka_en.pdf
  • https://www.scholaro.com/db/Countries/Sri-Lanka/Education-System
  • https://oec.world/en/profile/country/lka
  • https://www.macrotrends.net/countries/LKA/sri-lanka/literacy-rate
  • https://srilanka.travel/index.php?route=information