J.M. Wickramarachchi & Company (Pvt) Ltd together with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Sri Lanka (AHK Sri Lanka) commenced two comprehensive, practice-oriented NVQ level training courses on Optometry. Fifteen trainees with hearing impairment have been selected to follow the Ophthalmic Technician course (NVQ Level 3) while 31 trainees have been selected to follow the Optometrist (NVQ Level 5) course. Successful trainees will be placed in Wickramarachchi’s islandwide branch network. The inauguration ceremony to mark the commencement of the two training courses was held yesterday (10th March) at the Wickramarachchi Opticians Hearing Care Center in Delkanda.
Both courses will follow curricula endorsed by the Tertiary & Vocational Education Commission (TVEC) and include elements of the German dual qualification that ensures conformity to quality standards defined by the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK). The training initiative is co-financed by J.M. Wickramarachchi & Company, Swiss State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The intervention was initiated through the Business Scouts for Development (BSfD) programme of AHK Sri Lanka.
Speaking at the inauguration, H.E. the Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka and Maldives, Dr Domink Furgler said, “I am really happy about the top quality vocational training opportunities offered to Sri Lankan youth. Today, we are inaugurating such a project and I am additionally pleased that we have a unique programme offered to hearing impaired young people. Convinced of the success of the German dual system and aware of the high quality of the projects of our German neighbors and friends, we have been supporting them for years in various countries. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our German partners and friends for the great cooperation”.
Dr Furgler further added, “I encourage both entrepreneurs and authorities in Sri Lanka to create more space for vocational education and be inspired by the success of examples like the German and Swiss dual training system. It is clear that you cannot copy a system and bring it to another country and there are questions of local context and conditions. Changing mentalities, starting with families concerned is not easy and takes time and this is why projects like this are of great importance. I am convinced that this will benefit the families concerned as well as the Sri Lankan economy and sets the precedence. Switzerland stands ready to continue supporting such initiatives.”
Founder of J.M. Wickramarachchi & Company (Pvt) Ltd together Mihira Wickramarachchi said, “We hope to change the current reality of the Sri Lankan optical and hearing industries by creating more beneficial training possibilities. We aim to produce a more professional and qualified teams to raise the standards within the industry. We are very confident that these research and development opportunities will lead to create a very superior expertise in optometry and hearing care within the country.”
Representing world renowned hearing aid brand Phonak, Sonovo Group distributed hearing aids to trainees and provided technical assistance on training deliveries.
Representing GIZ Sri Lanka, Country Director Christiane Einfeldt and GIZ- Vocational Training in Sri Lanka Head of Project Mathis Hemberger also graced the inauguration ceremony while Head of Corporate Affairs, Malintha Gajanayake and Vocational Training Manager, Piyumi Sirigampala represented AHK Sri Lanka.
At the end of the inauguration ceremony, Swiss Ambassador Dr Furgler and Chua Tze Peng, the Managing Director of Phonak Sonova in Singapore ceremoniously opened three mobile hearing aid clinics that will operate at ground level in Sri Lanka to offer hearing aid services to the general public.
Wickramarachchi & Company strives to change the current reality of the optical and hearing industries in Sri Lanka by creating more learning opportunities to produce more local and foreign employment prospects within the industry.