The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), the regulator of the electricity industry and the designated regulator for water services industry entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC), Vocational Training Authority (VTA) and National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority (NAITA) on 14th December 2021 to provide free National Vocational Qualification level 03 and level 04 for plumbers in Sri Lanka.
“Regulation of the Water Service Industry of Sri Lanka assigned to PUCSL by the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka Act No.35 of 2002 or PUCSL Act. Although we have drafted the framework to regulate the Water Services Industry and the Industry Act, we are yet to be empowered with amendments to the acts. But as the designated regulator and with the ambition of uplift the industry, we always seek opportunities on how our contribution can be made to protect the interest of consumers of the Water Services Industry and to promote safety, reduce waste, promote conservation, and service quality in Water Services Industry,” Janaka Ratnayake, Chairman of Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka said.
“Sri Lanka has approximately 10,000 plumbers and most of them do not hold any qualification. So, empowering plumbing technicians engaged in the water service industry to achieve the NVQ3 under the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) system, will promote safety, reduce waste, promote conservation, increase service quality, and value for money for the pipe-borne water consumers,”
“This programme is fully sponsored by PUCSL and the plumber technician does not need to pay for the exam fees, the course fee, materials and other requirements of gaining the qualification.” Ratnayake added.
Under the RPL programme, the PUCSL will access the knowledge of the plumbers, fill the knowledge gap and hold the exams within 04 days and award the certification at no cost to the plumbers. The PUCSL launched the first programme of awarding the NVQ3 qualification to plumbers in Kalutara District yesterday with the participation of 100 plumbers.
Earlier this year, PUCSL introduced a similar programme for electricians in Sri Lanka and more than 5000 electricians have obtained the qualification. NVQ3 is the minimum qualification for obtaining an electrician license. Also, PUCSL launched a programme to upgrade the knowledge of Solar Technicians in Sri Lanka and more than 1000 solar technicians have obtained the qualification so far.