The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management, Sri Lanka (CIPM) recently organised a roundtable discussion bringing together 30 key stakeholders from government institutions, academia, vocational training bodies and corporate organisations to examine Sri Lanka’s growing skills gap and workforce challenges.
The dialogue focused on the widening gap between industry requirements and available workforce competencies, which has become a major concern affecting Sri Lanka’s economic growth, productivity and global competitiveness. Rapid technological change, skilled migration, evolving labour market trends and gaps in education and vocational training have intensified shortages across several industries.
Sectors including information technology, tourism and hospitality, construction, manufacturing, healthcare and engineering continue to face difficulties in recruiting suitably skilled professionals. At the same time, youth unemployment and underemployment remain ongoing concerns, highlighting the disconnect between education outcomes and labour market expectations.
Dr. Heather Fernando, Chairperson of the Standing Committee – National HR Data Hub with Research and Development Capabilities, CIPM, outlined the purpose of the discussion, which was facilitated by Dr. Samantha Rathnayake, Senior Lecturer at the Postgraduate Institute of Management.
The dialogue followed a presentation on Labour Market Intelligence by Manuja Karunaratne, Principal Information Officer at the National Science Foundation, which examined sector-specific workforce challenges, emerging skills requirements, practical solutions and policy measures needed to strengthen industry-academia collaboration and workforce development.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Neil Bogahalanda, Vice President of CIPM, emphasised the urgent need for strategic and coordinated action to overcome the skills shortage. He highlighted that aligning workforce capabilities with changing industry needs is essential to improving national productivity, increasing employability and sustaining Sri Lanka’s long-term economic competitiveness.
Representatives from education, vocational training and industry sectors shared insights on the importance of developing relevant skills and creating stronger connections between training institutions and employers.
Dr. Dilrukshi Herath, Deputy Director of the National Vocational Qualification, Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission, highlighted the organisation’s focus on developing industry-relevant skills, while Mrs. N. R. Ranawake, Commissioner of Labour – Labour Standards Division, noted that discussions on labour reforms and amendments are currently progressing.
Neil Abeysekera, CEO of the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka, stressed that addressing the skills gap requires more than technical training alone. He noted the importance of changing social attitudes towards vocational and technical professions by ensuring skilled workers receive greater recognition, dignity and respect.
Meanwhile, Prof. Udaya Mohan from the University of Kelaniya highlighted opportunities to engage unemployed graduates through freelance work models and encouraged broader consideration of gig-economy approaches to improve workforce participation and productivity.
Prof. Mangaleshwaran emphasised the growing importance of soft skills among graduates, noting that universities must continue strengthening industry exposure through structured internships and practical learning opportunities to improve graduate readiness.
The discussion identified several key areas requiring attention, including future labour market trends, emerging occupations, vocational education reforms, digital and soft skills development, skilled talent retention amid migration pressures, public-private partnerships, industry-focused curriculum development and continuous reskilling and upskilling initiatives.
Mrs. J. M. K. N. Jayasooriya, Assistant Commissioner of Labour – Planning, Research, Training & Publication Division, highlighted the importance of continuing such discussions to better understand labour market changes and align Sri Lanka’s human capital development strategies with the needs of both public and private sector organisations.
Dr. Roshan Niwunhella called for a comprehensive transformation of university curricula to ensure graduates are equipped to succeed in a rapidly changing business environment. He emphasised that higher education institutions should focus not only on academic knowledge but also on developing practical capabilities, innovation, critical thinking, adaptability, communication and problem-solving skills.
The CIPM-led dialogue reinforced the need for stronger collaboration among government, industry and educational institutions to build a future-ready workforce capable of supporting Sri Lanka’s economic transformation.
Connect to Care Registers as NGO, Strengthening Governance to Expand National Development Impact
Connect to Care (CTC) Consulting has announced a significant milestone in its institutional journey with its official registration as a Voluntary Social Services/Non-Governmental Organisation under the Voluntary Social Services Organisations (Registration & Supervision) Act No. 31 of 1980, as amended.
The registration strengthens Connect to Care Consulting’s mandate, governance framework and institutional capacity to support Sri Lanka’s development priorities through practical implementation, cross-sector collaboration and measurable impact.
As part of this transition, the organisation has also completed a comprehensive governance and institutional strengthening programme focused on enhancing transparency, accountability, financial stewardship and programme delivery capabilities.
Operating at the intersection of government, development partners, academia, civil society and the private sector, Connect to Care Consulting works to transform policy priorities into practical programmes and sustainable outcomes. Its areas of focus include Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), digital agriculture, health innovation, nutrition, institutional strengthening and public sector transformation.
The strengthened organisational structure comes at a time when Sri Lanka is placing increased emphasis on effective implementation, institutional reform, digital transformation and evidence-based development. Through upgraded governance mechanisms and enhanced operating systems, Connect to Care Consulting aims to serve as a trusted implementation and coordination platform for complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives.
As part of its governance transformation, the organisation has appointed Rehan Anthonis, Anjali Nayyar and Dhamitha Cooke to its Board.
Rehan Anthonis, Senior Director – People Operations at Sysco LABS Sri Lanka, brings more than 25 years of leadership experience in organisational transformation, talent strategy, people operations and corporate governance across multinational environments.
Anjali Nayyar, Executive Vice President at Global Health Strategies, contributes over two decades of international leadership experience across Asia and Africa, with expertise in public health, policy, strategic advocacy, partnerships and programme leadership.
Dhamitha Cooke, a senior finance and business transformation professional with more than 45 years of experience spanning banking, aviation, capital markets and diversified business groups, strengthens the organisation’s capabilities in governance, financial management and institutional transformation.
With its formal NGO registration and enhanced governance structure, Connect to Care Consulting aims to further contribute to Sri Lanka’s development agenda by supporting collaborative solutions, strengthening institutions and delivering sustainable impact across key national priority areas.
CIPM Hosts Industry Dialogue on Talent Shortages and Skilled Workforce Challenges in Sri Lanka
