Deadline for unemployed graduate applications extended to 20 Feb.

By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya

The deadline for applications for unemployed undergraduates to apply for jobs has been extended to 20 February from 14 February and the application can be downloaded via the

Higher Education, Technology, and Innovation Minister Bandula Gunawardana – Pic by Ruwan Walpola

Presidential Secretariat website.

At a media briefing yesterday, Higher Education, Technology, and Innovation Minister Bandula Gunawardana said it was estimated that there were 55,000 to 60,000 unemployed graduates in the country and the program would provide jobs for graduates below the age of 45 who have been employed for over a year.

“During the first year, they will receive leadership and vocational training,” Gunawardana said, adding that the graduates would then receive permanent employment depending on the vacancies in the area. However, they will not be able to transfer to other areas until they complete five years of employment.

The Minister also highlighted certain questions raised about the Open University of Sri Lanka, saying that during talks with students and the academic staff, it had come to his attention that social media reports on the privatisation of the university as well as the increase of tuition fees had created a tense situation among the students.

“In my personal opinion, there are various forces sharing stories about this university to bring down the State university system,” Gunawardana said, adding that he believed unrest was created among students and protests were organised by agents that sent students to study in foreign countries.

“When there are protests, especially those that end in violence, parents opt out of sending their children to local universities and do all they can to send their children abroad,” he explained. He, however, did admit that there were reports of continued harassment within the university, saying that in future all incidents of that nature would be publicised through the media. In addition to this, students who dropped out of university due to ragging can anonymously report their experience to a specially-appointed committee.

In response to a question raised on examination delays faced by students of external degrees, the Minister said that measures would be taken to address these delays and also offer students external degreed that are of relevance to a career.