By R. Sampanthan –

R. Sampanthan

Having moved my Adjournment Motion, Sir, may I have your indulgence to make a few comments in regard to that. According to figures available, in the Northern Province, there are 4,429 unemployed graduates while in the Eastern Province, the number is around 4,500. I might say that the number of unemployed graduates in the Northern and the Eastern Provinces is much higher than the number of unemployed graduates in other provinces in the country. Comparatively, the Northern and the Eastern Provinces are in a much worse off position than the graduates in the other provinces. I will give the Government some details in regard to unemployment, particularly in the Eastern Province. My Colleagues, who will speak after me, will be furnishing some details in regard to unemployment in the Northern Province.

Full text of the speech made by R. Sampanthan in Parliament on the 24th of May 2017:

ගරු රාජවරෝදියම් සම්පන්දන් මහතා (විරුද්ධ පාර්ශ්වයේ නායකතුමා)

(மாண்புமிகு ராஜவரோதயம் சம்பந்தன் – எதிர்க்கட்சி முதல்வர்)

(The Hon. Rajavarothiam Sampanthan – Leader of the Opposition)

Mr. Deputy Speaker, I move the following Adjournment Motion:

“Whereas unemployment amongst youth both males and females, after qualifying as graduates has been an acute problem in the Northern and Eastern Provinces in Sri Lanka.

And whereas this problem has been accentuated in the Northern and Eastern Provinces over a period of time as a consequence of (i) diminishing employment opportunities (ii) lack of regular recruitment to public service (iii) lack of employment opportunities in the private sector.

And whereas this situation had come about, as a result of the violence and instability that has prevailed in the Northern and Eastern Provinces consequent to the armed conflict that had prevailed for almost three decades.

And whereas it is now eight years since the armed conflict came to an end but this issue of unemployment amongst educated youth has remained unaddressed.

And whereas thousands of youth both in the Northern and Eastern Provinces have in the past several weeks continued to stage demonstrations to emphasize their plight and to urge that their grievances be suitably addressed.

And whereas the Chief Ministers of the Northern and Eastern Provinces, other Ministers and officials of the said provinces have had discussions with His Excellency the President, the Hon. Prime Minister, other Ministers and officials of the Central Government to address this issue in a meaningful way.

And whereas there are vacancies and unfilled positions in both the Central Public Service and in the Provincial Public Services of the Northern and Eastern Provinces, which if filled could address this issue of unemployment amongst unemployed graduates in the Northern and Eastern Provinces at least to some extent.

And whereas youth from all ethnic groups are amongst the unemployed graduates, the worst affected were Tamil youth who were the most victimized as a result of the war and as a step to promote reconciliation and return to normal life, employment of these unemployed graduates should be addressed as a matter of urgency in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

I therefore urge that the Government meaningfully addresses and resolves this issue at the earliest, also in consultation with the Chief Ministers of the Northern and Eastern Provinces.”

Having moved my Adjournment Motion, Sir, may I have your indulgence to make a few comments in regard to that. According to figures available, in the Northern Province, there are 4,429 unemployed graduates while in the Eastern Province, the number is around 4,500. I might say that the number of unemployed graduates in the Northern and the Eastern Provinces is much higher than the number of unemployed graduates in other provinces in the country. Comparatively, the Northern and the Eastern Provinces are in a much worse off position than the graduates in the other provinces. I will give the Government some details in regard to unemployment, particularly in the Eastern Province. My Colleagues, who will speak after me, will be furnishing some details in regard to unemployment in the Northern Province.

According to the information available, Sir, there are 4,784 vacancies for teachers in the Eastern Province. I discussed this matter with the Chief Minister this morning and I was told by him that approval has been granted by the Management Services Division and the Finance Division to recruit 1,700 graduates immediately as teachers and they are expecting financial approval for yet about another 900 graduates shortly. The approval for the employment of the balance 1,535 of the cadre is expected to be received shortly and that should be expedited. If these vacancies, the vacancies that exist in regard to teaching in the Eastern Province, are filled, Sir, the number of unemployed graduates in that province would be substantially reduced. Apart from that, there are vacancies in the different Ministries in the Eastern Province. In the Chief Minister’s Office, there are 351 vacancies; in the Ministry of Health, there are 341 vacancies; in the Ministry of Agriculture, there are 558 vacancies and in the Ministry of Education, there are 1,535 vacancies, totaling in all to 2,785 vacancies. The Chief Minister has discussed this matter with the President and he has been given the assurance that this matter will be dealt with early.

I also wish to mention, Sir, that while graduates are recruited, the vacancies for graduates in the fine arts sector related to the culture of the Tamil people – music, both vocal and instrumental, and dance and drama, which are important aspects of education – also need to be addressed.            

One problem that we have, Sir, in the recruitment of graduates is the age limit. Presently the age limit is 35 and under. I think this should be altered given the conditions that have prevailed in the North and the East over the past 30 years. This age limit should be increased to at least 40, if not a little beyond that, because the number of persons who are qualified to be appointed and who are unemployed are not in a position to apply for an appointment in view of the fact that their age is a barrier to recruitment.

I think, Sir, it would not be wrong to state that there is a responsibility on the part of the Government, on the part of the State to provide employment to educated youth. Of course, this will also depend to a large extent on the level of development that has taken place in the country and it may be on account of the conflict that we have had for 30 years we have not developed to the extent to which we should have developed. We are, therefore, somewhat seriously handicapped in the matter of being able to provide employment to our educated youth and consequently, educated youths are being deprived of leading a decent life and making their own contribution towards the development of the country. I think, Sir, the Government should address this issue as a very serious issue, particularly when the Government is committed to a process of reconciliation and return to normal life in the war-affected, conflict-ridden areas, the Northern and the Eastern Provinces. The Government, I think, is under obligation to address this matter meaningfully and purposefully, to deal with this question in an effective and meaningful way.

I want to mention the fact that on two prior occasions – one is during the time of President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and again during the time of President Mahinda Rajapaksa – a large number of graduates were recruited from throughout the country. They were paid a nominal salary to start with, but they were given a training and according to the training given to them, they were absorbed into the Public Service later, after that training had been completed. The Government should seriously consider adopting a step of that nature where people are recruited, given some training and thereafter they are provided with employment consistent with the training that they have undergone.

We would appeal to the Government to regard this issue as a very serious issue because the people in the Northern and the Eastern Provinces  who  have been  the victims of the war for several decades have many complaints to make in regard to missing persons in their families, in regard to their lands being occupied by the armed forces and not being released, in regard to persons being held in custody, in regard to rehabilitation, resettlement, housing, employment – various matters, and the demonstrations being carried out by educated youth, graduates in the Northern and the Eastern provinces are yet another sad phenomenon. I do not think that should continue and we would appeal to the Government to take some action to bring about some alleviation in the situation at the earliest.

Thank you, Sir.

ගරු නියෝජ්‍ය කථානායකතුමා

(மாண்புமிகு பிரதிச் சபாநாயகர் அவர்கள்)

(The Hon. Deputy Speaker)

The Hon. Gnanamuthu Srineshan will be seconding the Motion and after that the Hon. Sagala Ratnayaka will speak.