Graduate trainee officers’ passing out parade on May 23

Economic Development Deputy Minister MLA M. Hisbulla in conversation with youths undergoing training at the training camps at Giritale and Minneriya.(Right) Youths being put through their paces.

A two-week training course for the third batch of 15,596 graduates recruited by the Economic Development Ministry as Development Officers and assigned to Divisional Secretariats countrywide, commenced on May 8. Selected from 25 districts, they are being successfully trained at 16 centres.

The passing out parade of the third batch will be held on May 23.

“The aim of this training course is to give them a basic knowledge of working as facilitators in implementing rural development programmes to eradicate poverty by strengthening the family and the village,” Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa said.

Inspecting the training camps at Giritale and Minneriya yesterday,Economic Development Deputy Minister MLAM. Hisbulla added that recruiting such a large number of educated young people to the public service simultaneously was not a burden on the State but a great benefit.

“Therefore, it is the duty of both people’s representatives and senior state officials to utilize the services of these new recruits for economic progress, he stressed.

The Economic Development Ministry has made arrangements for hold two-week residential workshops for these graduates undergoing training as Development Officers.

The 15,596 graduates - divided into four groups will be trained at 16 centres in four stages. The first stage commenced on March 25, the second on April 18 and the third stage will conclude on May 23. Seventy one percent of the total number of trainees are women and 29 percent men.

“The assistance of the Armed Forces have been obtained to strengthen their personalities so that they can take up challenges when they start working at village level and identify the needs of the rural population. The trainees will be given a comprehensive knowledge of the Divi Neguma National Programme at these workshops.

“The duty of the Development Officers would be to take the lead in eradicating poverty by economically empowering the individual and thereby the family and village in accordance with the Mahinda Chinthana manifesto, Deputy Minister Hisbulla said in conclusion.