The Sri Lanka Skills Expo 2026 is scheduled to take place from October 23 to 25 at Viharamahadevi Park and Green Path in Colombo. The initiative aims to raise awareness about vocational education and equip young people with practical skills aligned with future job market needs.

Announcing the details during a media briefing at the Department of Government Information on October 19, Deputy Minister of Vocational Education Nalin Hewage stated that the exhibition is jointly organized by the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education and the Agriculture Sector Skills Council.

The primary goal of the event is to bridge the gap between academic education and industry demands while encouraging youth to pursue technical and vocational training streams. Deputy Minister Hewage highlighted that despite expanding employment opportunities, a mismatch persists between job seekers’ skill sets and market requirements. He noted that the government is actively focusing on building a skilled workforce to fulfill national economic and industrial goals.

More than 24,000 students from provinces outside the Western Province have already registered to participate. Deputy Minister Hewage invited school students and young people islandwide to visit the exhibition and explore training pathways to build their future careers. (Eduwire)