Unemployed graduates of the Batticaloa district are on the 19th day of their Satyagraha demanding job opportunities from the government and the Provincial authorities. They have been protesting opposite of the Gandhi Park, Batticaloa since February 21.
The graduates expressed their disappointment and disillusionment with the government. “We had faith in the government as they promised us jobs in the election manifesto,” a representative of the graduates said, adding that, however, they have been let down by the government.
“We have been affected physically and psychologically. We shall not give up our protest until we hear something favourable from the government,” he said.
The graduates are making several demands among which are: Recruitment through interviews and not through competitive examinations, extending the age limit of recruitment to 45 on the basis of the date of graduation, exclude those already in government service as well as abolishment of the quota system of recruitment and a new preferential scheme of recruitment for the differently-abled.
The sit-in demonstration is expected to continue till the demands are met. Nearly 1,500 unemployment graduates are participating with their children. At present there are nearly 5,000 unemployed graduates in the Batticaloa, Ampara and Trincomalee districts.