Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa today accused President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s government of breaking promises made to unemployed graduates during the election campaign, nearly a year after coming to power.
Premadasa said around 40,000 graduates remain jobless despite pledges in the JVP-led manifesto to employ 35,000, including 20,000 as teachers, and to recruit others to customs, inland revenue, tourism, and foreign services.
He alleged that the graduates were used to boost the party’s vote share but have now been abandoned, questioning whether the government’s reluctance to recruit them was due to fear of the IMF.
Premadasa called unemployed graduates “a learned and intelligent resource, not political pawns,” and urged the government to provide training and place them in essential sectors. He said the SJB would continue to stand with them until a permanent solution is found. (Newswire)