The measure will come to effect from the end of 2016, he added.

The minister was speaking while presenting certificates to a group who had taken up courses offered by the Vocational Training Authority.

The State minister said that the government intends to train those applying for local jobs in addition to those going for foreign employment. However, a proper procedure did not exist for this in the recent past, he added.

He further said that the ministry intends to provide vocational training for 11,000 persons in 2016 and Budget 2016 had allocated Rs. 15,000 million for the cause.

He also said that the National Youth Services Council and the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau are collaborating with the ministry to provide vocational training.