The Hon. (Mrs.) Chamindranee Kiriella, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, thank you for the opportunity to present my views during the Committee Stage Debate on the Heads of Expenditure of two important ministries. Youth constitute about 23.5% of our population. Of those tasked with taking our country forward, around 25% of young men and women are unemployed today. As elders, and as a government, our primary objective should be to resolve unemployment. Both the Hon. Leader of the Opposition and the Hon. Prime Minister spoke about this today. The NPP’s policy manifesto clearly stated that 35,000 unemployed graduates would be given jobs. In the Kandy District, which I represent, close to 2,000 graduates are currently without employment, and many are exceeding the age limits after waiting five to six years at home. I understand some of them have even started a fast near the Temple of the Tooth. I earnestly request immediate action on their plight.

¶ 02 If this keeps being highlighted, will foreign investors still come to Sri Lanka? When we showcase such issues, investors hesitate. Also, even where there are vacancies in the public service, recruitments are not proceeding apace. For instance, in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs there are around 100 vacancies, but its competitive exam is held only once in three to four years, with no predictable schedule for candidates. Exams were held in 2013, then 2017, and then 2022; there is no established timetable.

¶ 03 Similarly, approval has been given to recruit 3,000 student nurses, but only 2,183 have been taken; 817 vacancies remain. While youth in the 25–27 age range could be recruited, this is not being done. We know up to 5% of student nurse intake can be male, and I understand the Minister of Health has given special approval. There are 2,016 eligible young men who have fulfilled all requirements for male student nursing, but despite approvals, these recruitments have not occurred.

¶ 04 The Hon. Prime Minister stated in her answer today that around 10,000 have been recruited. The Cabinet decision of 10 March 2025 provides for recruiting 5,882 persons—I have that decision—but it does not specify whether they are graduates or which grades. Even if we are given numbers, there is no clarity on how many graduates will be among them or how many from other categories. Therefore, I again request that, as promised, fairness be ensured for graduates. Many graduates supported our election processes, but after the presidential election defeat, because of promises made in the NPP manifesto, many graduates did not participate in our campaigns, fearing they would otherwise lose job opportunities. Please honor the promises made to them.

¶ 05 A core duty of any government is to provide employment opportunities for youth. This government has failed to do so. We accept that we cannot give state jobs to everyone. But we expect to bring investors, open factories, and create employment. It has been about six months since this government assumed power, yet no new investors have arrived; those who had come are saying “Tata, bye” and leaving.

¶ 06 We have also recently seen people bringing up events of 30 years ago. Meanwhile, even existing public sector vacancies are not being filled according to need.

¶ 07 On the Youth Affairs and Sports Ministry Vote, in the Kandy District there are four 200m track grounds: Bogambara, Digana, the Jayatilleke Grounds in Nawalapitiya, and the University of Peradeniya. To use these tracks for training, a child must pay Rs. 60 per session to the relevant local authority; for four to five days a week, that’s about Rs. 500 weekly. I highlight this because Kandy’s Tharushi Karunarathna won the Asian Games 400m gold; she studied at Walala A. Rathnayake Central College. She trained without a proper track. None of the grounds I mentioned has a synthetic track—only grass tracks. I request that at least one stadium in Kandy be provided with a synthetic track.

¶ 08 Regarding cricket governance, based on the Chitrasiri Committee Report, the proposed Sri Lanka Cricket constitution was submitted to the President about two months ago. The NPP policy document, including page 34, says the proposed cricket constitution will be implemented expeditiously. Hon. Bhesha Withanage also spoke on this. We request that, as promised during the election, steps be taken urgently to operationalize the Chitrasiri recommendations.

¶ 09 Thank you, Hon. Presiding Member, for the opportunity.