President is to write to EC seeking to allow graduate training programme

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is to write to the Election Commission seeking to lift the halt it imposed on the graduate training programmes since the initiative was not targeted for the upcoming General Elections and commenced even before the Parliament was dissolved.

Speaking to the media heads of national media institutions, President Rajapaksa said he doesn’t understand the reason why the Commission took the decision of halting the training programme which is needed for the fresh appointees to work in the public sector effectively. 

He denied allegations that this initiative, launched by the Presidential Secretariat is aiming to take political advantage targeting the upcoming polls. 

On Monday, the Election Commission ordered to stop all graduate appointments and other than recruitment to public service unless it is essential since this type of recruitment can be a political promotion during upcoming General Elections. 

According to a circular issued by the department, all government appointments and recruitment are halted until elections are held and a week after election results are announced. 

This came in the wake of government announcement that the delivery of appointment letters by post to the qualified candidates under the programme to provide employment opportunities to unemployed graduates has reached its final stage last week. 

Out of the total of around 70,000 applications received, 56,000 had been duly completed. The UGC and several other organizations scrutinized these applications. Only 45,585 have been identified as qualified to be appointed while others although possess a degree or a diploma did not meet required criteria.

However, Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration said last week that the Commission gave green signal to go ahead with the graduate training programme.