National cookery competition to pick country’s Supreme Youth Chef

The Vocational Training Authority (VTA), National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority (NAITA), Mianai Technical Institute in Batticaloa and the Don Bosco Training Centre in Anuradhapura, with Skills for Inclusive Growth (S4IG), have agreed to create a national cookery competition for 18–35-year-old trainee chefs to compete for the title Supreme Youth  Chef of Sri Lanka.

The government partners, along with S4IG, entered an MoU with its media partner, Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC), to televise the show for the next three years. The episodes will be produced by Creative Network, headed by industry veteran Chathura Jayathilleka, supported by the media teams of VTA and NAITA.

SLRC Chairman Sonala Digath Weerawickrama Gunawardana said: “The Supreme Chef project is, at its heart, a promotional initiative for vocational training in Sri Lanka. The TV show aspires to encourage the population at large to see the benefits of gaining professional skills. If Sri Lanka can remove its societal stigma of vocational training in relation to traditional academic paths, doors will open for many more youth and the wider economy will benefit.”

Through the MoU, S4IG has undertaken to support running the competition in 39 VTA locations, six NAITA locations, Don Bosco Training Centre in Anuradhapura, and Mianai Technical Institute in Batticaloa.