Premier promises 100,000 foreign jobs next year

by Rohan Mathes

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse yesterday assured 400,000 job opportunities to the country's youth in his first term as President.

Addressing the Youth Conference at the Sugathadasa Stadium, Rajapakse said that he envisages enhancing foreign employment opportunities and would provide 100,000 overseas opportunities in 2006 itself.

Outlining his job programme, he said school leavers will initially be given vocational training. In order to cater to the international job market, the market needs would be identified and the training would match the needs of the market, not only for the Middle Eastern countries, but Korea, Japan, Italy and other developed countries such as the USA, and Australia.

The jobs will be in the specialised spheres of IT, Civil Engineering and Industrial Technology. The employees will be given training in languages and the culture of the respective countries.

He said: "Our aim is to build patriotic youth who will in turn commit themselves to develop our country. Political parties which represent the aspirations of our youth are with us, and not with Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The University students and those pursuing higher education are with us. Those in the IT and Communication spheres, the knowledgeable estate sector youth are also with us and not with their leader Thondaman. The young members of the Sangha, young artists, the media, those in the Armed Forces, those of the medical, engineering and legal professions, the youth of the free trade zone are also with us," he said.

Around 34 per cent of our population is made up of youth who obviously have diverse problems. As politicians, they hold the onus of resolving those problems and deploying them for the development of the country.

Rajapakse pointed out that people could be evaluated not by their words or the books they write, but by their work. Ranil Wickremesinghe had miserably failed in creating employment during his period. All their ventures ended up in ruin. "Mahinda Rajapakse, will not utter anything he cannot do and will not say things he cannot do," he quipped.

The Premier said he will not be intimidated or discouraged by threats to his life, he said, adding that he is prepared to serve the country with an undated 'Death Certificate' in his pocket. He only needed the blessings of the youth of this country.

Cautioning the youth not to be mislead by UNP's false propaganda and promises, Rajapakse urged the youth to rally round him to take a great leap forward for the dawn of a new era.