President reviews 150,000 jobs program

• 51,135 eligible graduates earmarked
• Details of those who failed to qualify available online
• Priority for most deserving in 100,000 low income quota  

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday reviewed the 150,000 employment program, which will be in effect from 2 September onwards, and emphasised that graduates should be given posts in line with their qualifications and the low-income job quota should go to the most deserving. 

President advised the relevant authorities to appoint the eligible graduates in accordance with their field of study, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said yesterday. He also said priority should be given to the poorest among the poor in every Grama Niladhari Division when selecting candidates for the programme to employ 100,000 low-income persons.

President made these remarks during a discussion held at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday to discuss future modalities of the employment program.

President emphasised the necessity of providing on the job training as a measure to address shortcomings and deficiencies in the public sector. Qualified persons will be employed in the private sector too. During the one-year training program more attention should be paid to nurture qualities such as leadership, meeting targets and building confidence. The President also pointed out the importance of offering jobs for selected graduate employees at new State Ministries to achieve set goals of those ministries.

Many people apprised the President of the issue of shortage of teachers in schools when he visited several districts during the election campaign. It was also decided to appoint new job recipients to overcome this problem. Low-income recipients selected for employment under the 100,000 jobs scheme will be directed to fill vacancies at 24 different trades. They will be trained by the National Apprentice Board. Secretary to the President P.B. Jayasundera, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Kamal Gunaratne, Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government J.J. Ratnasiri and other officials were present at the discussion.