On the 20th of May Norway signed a new agreement to continues vocational training with World University Service of Canada WUSC. Upon signing the Norwegian Ambassador Tore Hattrem said “I am very pleased to continue our support to vocational training in Sri Lanka.. We believe that by strengthening the vocational training sector one contributes to Sri Lanka’s poverty reduction and empowerment. Norway highly appreciates the commitment and competence that WUSC and its partners show in providing opportunities for marginalized and underemployed women and youth. We also greatly value WUSC as a partner for supporting income and employment generation in all regions of Sri Lanka. It is Norway’s hope and belief that reduction in poverty through employment leads to corresponding reductions in social tension and political conflict.”