Govt. tells protesting students to apply for public sector job programs

• Says steps already taken to recruit thousands from 1 March
• Calls on different student groups to support Govt.-led programs rather than protesting and inconveniencing the public 

Reacting to multiple student protests yesterday, the Government called on participants to join the employment generation process already announced by them instead of causing hardships to the public, the President’s Media Department said in a statement. 

Collection of information on graduates and equally qualified diploma holders has now been completed in order to provide employment to all of them. Securing the required funds, too, is underway, the statement added. 

The objective of the Government is to provide employment opportunities in accordance with the degree obtained and existing vacancies at government and semi-government bodies and departments. The recruitment of around 53,000 graduates will commence from 1 March. 

The Government has undertaken the task of ensuring job security for those who are employed on temporary, casual, and contract basis, and have completed 180 days. All the qualified candidates will be granted permanent employment following discussions with the relevant authorities. During the last two months, an in-depth study had been carried out on the issues faced by the students at universities and other higher educational institutes. 

“The Government endeavours to provide the best possible solutions to these issues. Protestors now enjoy the freedom to demonstrate right opposite the President’s Office. No government in the past had allowed such freedom,” the statement claimed. 

It is the policy of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to look into the issues closely and provide solutions. The officials at the President’s Office spend a considerable amount of time listening to the grievances of protestors. Demands of most of the protestors are similar, it added. 

“Yesterday alone, six groups staged protests in front of the President’s Office. Discussing concerns of all these groups is a time-consuming process. This results in unnecessary delays in the implementation of the Government’s employment program. In addition, the general public have to suffer unexpected hardships. Further, it is a waste of time and money even on the part of the protestors.”

“The Government requests all the protesting groups to understand this reality and have faith in the Government’s process and extend support to make it a success,” the statement said.