Practical Action, a development charity entered in to a partnership with Handwerk Centre of Eastern Province to facilitate training of tradespersons in vocational skills related to construction in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka. Training will introduce technologies such as Rat-trap bond masonry, "I" channel rafters for roofing, ecological sanitation, solar water stiller manufacture and also domestic rain water collection tank construction. Under technical advise of Practical Action Handwerk Centre will conduct five day modular TOT initially for 78 construction tradesmen, representing 22 GN divisions in Thirukkovil DS division in Ampara District. These trainees will act as ambassadors to popularize the related building technologies in their Grama Niladaridivisions and in collaboration with the Handwerk Centre train 500 tradespersons over a six month of period. 

Practical Action helps poor communities respond to the challenges of new technologies, helping them to access effective technologies that can change lives forever. It has over 20 years experience throughout Asia, Africa and Latin America in the development of various types of cost effective and disaster resistant housing development including research and development of building materials. Practical Action’s integrated housing services work includes dissemination of knowledge and sharing knowledge of expertise gathered over the years in Sri Lanka specifically in post tsunami construction as well as internationally through its partners and regional offices. Main focus is to facilitate the processes of disaster sensitive, cost effective  and holistic housing in order to provide solutions to the basic needs of communities through integrated housing construction programs.

Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCSIL) and National Construction Association of Sri Lanka (NCASL) with technical collaboration with the Handwerkskammer Koblenz, Germany embarked establishing Handwerk Centres when they opened the Handwerk Centre, Western Province in Malegoda, Payagala in Kalutara district on 23rd March 2007.

The financial assistance was received from the Governments of the Netherlands (principal sponsor), Germany and the State of Rhineland Pfalz. The original objective was to meet the demand for trained personnel for the industry to meet the reconstruction tasks that arose as an aftermath of Tsunami catastrophe.  After the successful implementation of HwC Kalutara, FCCISL initiated to construct another training centre in Eastern Province. Both Centres are registered with City and Guilds.

Handwerk Centres also offers opportunities for those who are already employed in the industry to gain post employment skills upgrading. In addition the center handles company specific training for enhancing capacity and skills development. So far Handwerk Centre has trained more than 300 students in different crafts who are currently employed and or self employed.

The initiator of HWCs, FCCISL has also embarked on  a job placement service to assist those trained at the Centres to secure employment locally or overseas.