The Hon. Sajith Premadasa

¶ 01 Unemployment among graduates and distortions in the education-to-employment pipeline remain unresolved. Against that backdrop, I pose the following questions and seek clear answers from the Government:

¶ 02 1. Under free education, how much does the Government annually spend per student at each level—primary, secondary, and tertiary? Has the Government conducted any accepted studies on this?

¶ 03 2. What studies has the Government conducted on the time taken for graduates in Arts, Commerce, Science, and Technology streams to find employment after graduation? If so, what are the respective time frames?

¶ 04 3. There are about 580 locally qualified medical graduates awaiting internship due to lack of placements. What is the Government’s plan to provide them with internships?

¶ 05 4. As per page 72 of the National People’s Power policy statement, it is stated that 35,000 unemployed graduates will be swiftly provided with jobs through a proper mechanism: “20,000 to the teaching profession; 3,000 STEM graduates and 9,000 non-STEM graduates to the technology sector; and a further 3,000 to Inland Revenue, Customs, Foreign Service, and Tourism.” Accordingly, for this year: - How many graduates are expected to be recruited, and to which sectors? - What budgetary provision has been allocated? - Will recruitment be based on skills frameworks aligned to labour market needs, or via competitive examinations?

¶ 06 5. Many Arts graduates face acute difficulties in securing employment. What targeted education reforms will provide a durable solution? You also promised allowing graduates up to 45 years to sit competitive public examinations, but no action has been taken. Will the Government allow age-relaxed access to upcoming competitive exams?

¶ 07 Further, those graduates who were organized and engaged politically with certain Ministers and coordinators—who championed their cause—now cannot even reach those officials. I request that, under the leadership of the Prime Minister, these graduates be called, and concrete solutions be presented. I await clear answers.