Over 40,000 Jaffna graduates provided with employment

The government provided employment to over 40,000 graduates last year helping to end graduate unemployment, said Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister Douglas Devananda.

He said so participating as chief guest at a ceremony to mark the assigning of newly appointed graduates to state institutions at Veerasinghem Hall, Jaffna recenlty.

Minister Douglas Devananda handing over an appointment letter

Appointments were given to 2,341 trainee graduates from the Jaffna district and assigned them to state run institutions in the Jaffna peninsula.

The minister added that out of the trainee graduates, 514 will be assigned to development projects currently being carried out by the Economic Development Ministry in the district.

“Special projects are drawn up to absorb those who hold degrees in English, Mathematics, Science and Information Technology. In about two to three months, all trainee graduates will be awarded with permanent appointments,” the minister said.

He said this was an outcome of the government's long term plan to provide employment to graduates.

“The President specifically instructed to employ all graduates from Kilinochchi and Jaffna districts by the end of 2011. Consequently, all graduates from these two districts are now offered employment,” said the minister.

He urged the newly appointed graduates to extend their full cooperation to the ongoing development activities and commit themselves to serve the public at all times irrespective of the remuneration received, especially to serve the poor to uplift their living standard through programmes such as Divi Neguma .

Minister Devananda said he was informed by Power and Energy Minister Champika Ranawaka that the power cuts in the Jaffna peninsula which is being a hindrance to the development activities will be lifted after the Thai Pongal festival. Thus, people in the future will be able to carry out their day to day activities without inconveniences.

The minister thanked Minister Ranawaka for taking steps to supply uninterrupted power to the peninsula which was a long felt necessity. Jaffna Additional Government Agent Rubini Warathalingam, Jaffna district MP Sylvestri Allentin, Jaffna GA Sundaram Arumainayagam, Jaffna district planning director Mohandas also spoke.