• President says new initiative will lead the way for an attitudinal change in the country
• Selected candidates from poorest families will enjoy a rise in their monthly income from current Samurdhi allowance of Rs. 3,500 to Rs. 35,000
• Rs. 22,500 monthly allowance will be paid during six-month training program, Rs. 35,000 salary and allowances if selected to a permanent Government position
• Satisfactory and uninterrupted career record of 10 years will be eligible for pension
• Any form of bribery will result in immediate rejection of the job opportunity

The Government’s program to provide 100,000 employment opportunities aimed at eradicating poverty will commence today. The objective of the program is to empower those who live in absolute poverty with no formal education or skills through the Multi-Purpose Development Task Force established by the Government.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa initiated the program with a view to eradicate poverty. Unskilled individuals without any formal education or of lower level of education will be selected under the program. During the first phase, 100,000 jobs will be provided covering the entire island. 

Around 30,000 more indirect employment opportunities will also be generated. More than 10,000 graduates will be recruited for the positions of management and monitoring at the field level. He believes, this program will be helpful to those who will be recruited to raise their monthly income from the current Samurdhi allowance of Rs. 3,500 to Rs. 35,000.

“This program will lead the way for an attitudinal change in the country,” President Rajapaksa said. Job recipients are selected on criteria which include; unskilled workers who have no formal education or with education lower than the G.C.E. Ordinary Level Examination, must be not less than 18 years of age and not more than 45 years of age on the closing date for applications, being an unemployed member of a family eligible to receive Samurdhi benefits but does not receive it, or being a member of a family receiving Samurdhi benefits but unemployed, being an unemployed member of a family with elderly, sick parents or disabled members and be a permanent resident of the area of application. 

President also said the program will provide employment opportunities to these family members who are qualified to join the workforce of the country. Selected applicants will fill the vacancies which do not require any specific educational qualifications exist at schools, hospitals and other State institutions. 

Measures will be taken to absorb the candidates into fields such as masonry, carpentry, agriculture, fisheries and forest conservation. They will also be trained according to the needs of the sector. The training program will be conducted under the supervision of the Defence Ministry of and the Tri-Forces.

Selection for the training program will include; one individual with above qualifications from one family will be considered, based upon available job opportunities in proximity to the applicant’s residence and his choice of field for training, his/her vocational program will be decided.

Training programs will be conducted at the training centres in the same area of the applicant’s residence or at the nearby training centres. Following a successful training, the applicants will be employed in his/her area of residence or in nearby areas.

In terms of salary and allowances according to the program, during the six-month continuous training program a monthly allowance of Rs. 22,500 will be paid. Following successful completion of the training program, trainees will have the opportunity to be appointed to an accepted permanent Government position in his own residence area with a non-primary skilled salary of Rs. 35,000 and allowances.

After a satisfactory and uninterrupted career record of 10 years he/she will be eligible for pension. Employments will “only” be awarded based on above criteria and any form of bribery will result in immediate rejection of the job opportunity.

Don’t invite me to private functions: President