3800 unemployed graduates receive state appointments

Colombo (News 1st): 3800 unemployed graduates received appointments in the State service this afternoon (July 30) at the Temple Trees. The graduates were appointed based on a selection programme spanning across all districts in the Island. 880 of the graduates appointed are external degree holders. The graduates were recruited to the Ministries of National Policies, Economic Affairs, Resettlement and Rehabilitation and Northern Province Development and Youth Affairs. Speaking at the event Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe noted that the aspirations of a few development officials are to move on to another job while others hope to remain in this service. He noted that today they have granted these graduates this training through the e-learning system. He went onto note that they have to create economic development programmes at a rural level parallel to the other rural programmes. The Premier added as these graduates received these appointments, similarly, as a second phase, they will provide jobs by filling the vacancies by recruiting external degree holders. However, the Unemployed Graduates Association continues to reiterate that the recruitment process is flawed. Convener of the Combined Association of Unemployed Graduates Venerable Thenne Gnananda Thero noted that five of their comrades were injured during yesterday's protest march. He noted that the President and Prime Minister have said on 4 occasions that jobs will be given within 6 months and ultimately what they have done is turning the unemployed graduates against each other. He added that Article 2 (A) of the government-issued circular states internal and external degree holders should be treated as equal, however, this government separated this as external and internal causing injustice to a large number of internal degree holders. Moreover, the Thero noted that the government allocates 3% of the jobs for graduates with hearing and visual disabilities and this time, there are 48 such unemployed graduates. He added that the nominations of all these graduates have been cut off. Convener of the Inter-Company Employees' Union Wasantha Samarasinghe pointed out that discrimination is wrong as the external degree is also a degree. He said the government has to provide jobs to those who graduated before as well. Samarasinghe noted that interviews are being held for recruitments to the Samurdhi banks in the Ministry of National Empowerment. He "noted that those who are conducting these interviews are the minister's staff, those who deliver party letters. He said they have conducted interviews today as well, therefore, this government is technically making political appointments. General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party Dayasiri Jayasekara noted that the government has to draft a programme regarding external degree holders, or, they have to suspend the subject of external degrees for these students. He added that if they have made one, they have to provide a solution to these children.