The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) – the electricity
industry regulator, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Air Resource Management and National Ozone Unit of the Ministry of Environment, Tuesday aimed at establishing a comprehensive licensing system for Refrigeration, Air Conditioning (RAC) and mobile air
conditioning (MAC) technicians and to provide free National Vocational Qualification.
B K Prabath Chandrakeerthi (Attorney – At – Law), Secretary to the Ministry of Environment and Professor Manjula Fernando, Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka signed the MOU on behalf of the two organizations at the premises of Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka.
It is essential to adhere to the provisions of the Montreal Alliance in terms of electrical safety, energy conservation, environmental conservation and maintenance of refrigeration and air conditioning and mobile air conditioning equipment.
Targets are aimed at standardizing and certifying the relevant artisans to minimizing the emission of ozone-depleting chemicals into the atmosphere and using them in an environmentally friendly manner, as well as using non-ozone-depleting chemicals with a higher global warming potential, following good practices in the field of refrigeration and air conditioning and mobile air conditioning, and making alternative materials safe and standard.
As per this MoU, refrigeration and air conditioning technicians as well as mobile air conditioning technicians will be empowered in two phases. The collaboration will introduce a free-based National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) granting through an accelerated Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) by PUCSL for those techinician who are currently engaged in this profession but do not have a recognized professional qualification (certificate).
The Air Resource Management and National Ozone Unit of the Ministry of Environment is financing the assessment test fees, training costs and exam materials required for the final test and the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka together with the Air Resource Management and National Ozone Unit is responsible of carrying out the ground work, training and operation side of the programme.
With over 10,000 experienced but uncertified RAC and MAC technicians in Sri Lanka, there is a pressing need to bridge the gap between practical knowledge and professional qualifications. With this programme in
place all the RAC and MAC technicians will have the opportunity to obtain the national professional qualification free of charge.
As part of the programme’s second phase, PUCSL and Ministry of Environment will introduce an identification card to RAC and MAC technicians who qualify through the NVQ program. Also, a National
Licensing Framework for RAC and MAC technicians will be implemented after a sufficient number of technicians are professionally qualified the National Vocational Qualification Level 04.
Technicians who are interested can send a WhatsApp message with the name and district to 0764271030 to register to obtain National Professional Qualification Level 3 for free according under the Recognition of Prior Learning-RPL.
The groundbreaking collaboration between PUCSL and the Ministry of Environment represents a significant step toward fostering a skilled and certified workforce in the RAC and MAC sector, promoting environmental sustainability, and safeguarding public well-being.