Govt. to recruit 8,500 GCE OL, AL-qualified youths

The government is to recruit 8,500 GCE O/L and A/L qualified youths next week as project assistants to accelerate rural development work, a senior source at the Prime Minister’s Office said yesterday.

They will be provided with a year's training and paid a stipend of Rs.15,000 each and confirmed jobs after the period of training.

The government handed over appointment letters to 16,800 graduates in the State sector last week. They too will be provided with one year's training and appointed to State institutions as permanent employees. The graduates are to be paid Rs.20,000 during the period of training.

Meanwhile, State institutions are facing logistical problems with institution heads finding difficult to accommodate them.

“Some of the State institutions are finding it difficult to accommodate the graduate trainees and provide them with chairs, tables, computers and other requirements. The Ministry of National Policies has received complaints from a number of State institutions with regard to accommodation while the heads of institutions have been advised to use available funds to purchase the necessary equipment for new recruits,” the source said.

He said some heads of State institutions have refused to accept the new recruits on the basis that there are no vacancies, no space and no office equipment. (Sandun A Jayasekera)