John Keells Foundation Pilots ‘Skill Into Progress’ for Chauffeurs of Walker Tours & Whittal Boustead Travels

 John Keells Foundation launched `Skill into Progress (SKIP)’ – a new initiative to support the upskilling of identified supplier groups of the John Keells Group to enhance their standard and quality of service and thereby income opportunities in a post-pandemic environment.
The inaugural session of ‘SKIP’ was held today (6th July 2020), at John Keells Head Office in Colombo 02 with the introduction of a customised programme to enhance the English Language communication skills of chauffeur drivers and safari jeep drivers of Walkers Tours (WTL) and Whittal Boustead Travel (WBTL). The pilot programme targetting a pilot group of 40 chauffeurs – approximately 20 in Colombo and 20 in Yala – is funded under the John Keells English Language Scholarship Programme, a long -term initiative of JKF, and is implemented in collaboration with WTL and WBTL together with implementing partner Gateway Language Centre.
Carmeline Jayasuriya, Head of Operations, John Keells Foundation, Nalaka Amaratunga, CEO, Destination Management Sector, John Keells Group and Wathsala Dissanayake, Manager, Gateway Language Centre, addressed the gathering on the objective and importance of this programme. 21 chauffeurs selected from Colombo were present at this session and expressed their pleasure in being provided this opportunity in these challenging times.
Selection was based on a pre-assessment conducted by Gateway Language Centre. The initiative will involve 36 hours of industry-related English communication skills and successful candidates will receive a Certificate of completion.