Ideal Motors, a fully owned subsidiary of the Ideal Group expanding its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program launched the National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Level 4 courses for under privileged students at a ceremony held at the Ideal Management and Technical Training Centre (IMTTC) at Ratmalana last week.
The first batch comprising 18 students will undergo an intensive training for a period of two years of which one and a half years will be on theory and practice and six months on the job training at the Ideal Motors Central Workshop for Mahendra vehicles and Ideal Choice Workshop for high-end vehicles.
“W have invested around Rs.15 million on the programme through which we want to create interest, develop talents and produce a skilled workforce who would bring pride to the country as professionals in the motor mechanic industry,” Consultant Ideal Motors Maj. Gen W.G.M Upul Perera said.
The IMTTC signed an MoU with the Vocational Training Authority for the conduct of the NVQ Level 4 course and thereafter for students to continue the other levels in their career.
The course provides knowledge, skills and competencies on repair of petrol/diesel fuel systems, ignition, transmission, engine cooling, chassis electronic, passenger safety and security systems.
“The trainees will receive a monthly allowance of Rs. 7,500 in addition to uniforms, safety tools and meals being provided free,” Maj Gen. Perera said.
IMTTC also conducts courses on soft skills development, English language, motor mechanics and specialized training on finance management for in house employees and dealers.
“Training need analysis is done prior to recommending training courses and a performance analysis is done to ascertain whether employees achieve their targets. However, we do not fire employees as some organizations do when their workers do not achieve their targets after a couple of warnings. We go to the bottom of it to find out needs of the employee and the reasons to be lagging in performance,” an IMTTC trainer said.
Sri Lanka’s automobile industry which spans over 100 years produced some of the renowned entrepreneurs in the automotive industry such as S.A. Welgama, G. Happuhami, H.K Dharmadasa and in the 1970’s Upali Wijewardene who pioneered assembling motor vehicles in the country.
“One of my dreams was to provide technical training and the next is to start manufacturing a people’s car. The state of the art training facility at Ratmalana is a fulfillment of another of my dreams,” Ideal Group Chairman Nalin Welgama said.
The year 2009 was a turning point for the company as it joined hands with Mahendra and Mahendra to assemble vehicles in Sri Lanka with a 65 percent stake in the multinational car manufacturer in India.
Since 2009 Ideal Motors has been the sole distributor for Mahendra motor vehicles and motor cycles and has sold over 60,000 units to-date.
Going back to how he started the journey in 2009 with his friend Aravinda de Silva, the former cricketer and captain of the Sri Lankan team, Welgama paid tribute to his father from whom he inherited the skills of the automotive trade.
Referring to the talents the country is blessed with in the automotive industry, Welgama recalled how a young mechanic came to the rescue when the first Audi A8 which he imported failed to start after the vehicle was released from the port. That daring and promising youth now plays a pivotal role in the company.
Similarly he called upon those aspiring to be professionals in the industry to take a cue from those who have set an example and excel in their fields.
“This is a golden opportunity for young and prospective technicians to grab the occasion to make a mark in their career one day as sought after professionals in the world,’ Welgama said.
Director Automotive Chaminda Wanigaratne said that with the automotive industry evolving over the years to hybrid vehicles today, the need for competent technicians has grown and it is in this context training is vital to produce the workforce the country needs.