For better communication with families:

IT course for migrant workers

by Ananda KANNANGARA

The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) will conduct an Information Technology course to all local migrant workers who seek employment overseas.

The IT course will be conducted by the SLBFE and the Sri Lanka Anti Narcotics Association (SLANA) under the patronage of the Ministry of Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare.

Microsoft Sri Lanka Ltd. will provide funds, software and technical know-how for the program.

According to the SLBFE, over 20,000 Sri Lankans leave the country every year for foreign employment.

Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Minister Dilan Perera told the Sunday Observer that this course will immensely help workers who are interested in undergoing training on Information Technology as it is the faster tool for communication at present.

He said over 1.6 million Sri Lankans are employed overseas and the majority of this group hails from rural and impoverished backgrounds with a limited knowledge of IT and English.The Bureau expects to open 18 IT centres in 10 districts to benefit thousands of Sri Lankan workers who would go overseas for employment in future.

The same training would also be given to a member of the migrant worker's family, so that he/she could provide the training to others in the family.

SLANA Director Dharshini Guniyangoda said these IT programs will help migrant workers and their families have better communication channels between them."As we know, one of the leading problems among the families left behind is the high risk of substances abuse. Such problems could be combated by proper communication access," she said.