The National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority (NAITA), one of Sri Lanka's most crucial institutions providing industrial education standardization services, conducted a comprehensive capacity building programme on July 23rd, 2025, in collaboration with the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) at the NAITA main auditorium. The full-day intensive session, running from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, brought together all NAITA executives including the Chairman to address critical governance issues affecting the institution's operations across its 24 district units.
NAITA, operating under its vision "to become the most efficient training providing organization effectively contributing to achieve prosperity in Sri Lanka through Human Resource Development," serves as a statutory body that annually recruits nearly 14,000 trainees through its island-wide provincial network. The authority's mission focuses on providing vocational and technical training for youth to acquire employable skills through well-formulated skills programs with the highest standards of quality and integrity, operating under Act No. 20 of 1990 within the purview of the Ministry of Youth Affairs.
During the seven-hour session, various critical issues were discussed, particularly focusing on how informal technical education across the 24 district units faces different kinds of irregularities during the standardization process. The programme emphasized prevention techniques as the main principle for reducing these irregularities, with participants exploring systematic approaches to address implementation challenges and develop practical solutions. Newly appointed Chairman Mr. Abdul Sathar enthusiastically provided his insights and outlined his future plans for the institution, demonstrating strong leadership commitment to maintaining institutional integrity while expanding NAITA's impact on the country's human resource development.
The collaboration with CIABOC brought valuable expertise to the programme through Corruption Prevention Officer Mr. Shammi Sri Lal Thotawatta and Mr. Shilamega Welithotage, who contributed their specialized knowledge throughout the session. Their participation focused on nurturing understanding regarding prevention strategies, anti-bribery measures, and corruption prevention frameworks, ensuring that NAITA's operations maintain the highest standards of transparency and accountability. This initiative represents a significant step forward in strengthening institutional capacity and demonstrates NAITA's commitment to protecting the integrity of Sri Lanka's technical education system while continuing to fulfill its crucial role in developing skilled human resources for the nation's economic prosperity.
