(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) – The Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) of Sri Lanka announ-cedthe success of concluding the inaugural session of the ‘Lighting Digital Youth BootCamp’ in Heiyanthududuwa,Gampaha from 25th to 28th February. Thefour-day residential workshop was well attended by 80 + participants that were carefully screened to participate in the program.
The ‘Lighting Digital Youth Bootcamp’ initiative is a unique program devised by the ICTA incollaboration with the National Youth Services Council to fast-track youthemployment into the ICT industry. Youth who successfully undertake the ‘bootcamps’ will have the opportunity to acquire the necessary skills via a structured but quick set of targeted programs delivered by eminent professionals in the ICT industry. As a result, the Lighting Digital Youth Bootcamp initiative will directly enable 34,000 Sri Lankan Youth to be employable in the ICT industry across all Divisional Secretariats via 170 bootcamps.
Out of the 80+ participants, 70% were currently unemployed youth and seeking propective career opportunities. The Youth Bootcamps offered a unique opportunity in providing Scholarships, Internship Opportunities, Job Opportunities, Professional Memberships, Startups, and freelancing opportunities. Phase one of this initiative will conduct ten bootcamps in 10 discticts targeting 2,000 participants covering Gampaha, Hambantota, Kegalle, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Anuradhapura, Badulla, Kurunegala, Ampara, Vavuniya. Youth Bootcamps will be implemented across the island in a phased-out manner, providing a unique opportunity for tough to joing this programe until 2023.
Sameera Jayawardena- Director Capacity Buildingat ICTA stated, “ We are over-whelmed by the response we have received for the youth bootcamp. I am extremely proud to say that we have an immense potential of local talent. We as ICTA, and or-ganizations that represent the industry play a key role in guiding our future generation, and the youth boot camp is a unique platform that enables it. We thank our industry partners CSSL, BCS, FITIS, and SLASSCOM for partnering with this initiative.A national rollout is planned throughout the coming month enabling youth to enter a rewarding career in ICT. We believe this will be a key contributor in achieving the national goal of creating 300,000 ICT employees by 2025.”
The highlight of the event was the 5 Full scholarships awarded by BCS to the best per-forming students and 3 opportunities for internships offered by the Digital Marketing Association of Sri Lanka.. In order to interactively engage them the ICT Agency of Sri Lanka intends to hold regional boot camps in association with various stakeholders and interest groups to assist in the proper guidance and obtaining the necessary qualifications to take paly and active part in generating an export revenue of USD 3 Billion.
Mr. Oshada Senanyake, Chairman ICTA and Mr. Sameera Jaywardena, Director ICTA spearheaded this initiative while Mr.Rashitha Delapola, Director NYSC and Mr. Manula Perera, Director NYSC ensured the successful delivery of the project from the National Youth Services Council.
Those interested can register for the Bootcamps by visiting https://youth.lightingdigital.gov.lk. After which, they will undergo a screening test, and a preparatory webinar prior to attending the bootcamp. After the successful com-pletion of the boot camps, a post session follow will be conducted to monitor the partici-pants’ progress. For more information visit https://youth.lightingdigital.gov.lk.
