Nearly 19,000 new public sector appointments get approval under Budget 2025

Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa

The Cabinet of Ministers on Monday approved the recruitment of 18,853 individuals to the State sector, as part of the Government’s initiative to fill 30,000 essential public service vacancies proposed in the 2025 Budget. 

“This move is considered essential to strengthen key public sector functions, while maintaining fiscal discipline,” Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said yesterday. 

Addressing the media at the weekly post-Cabinet meeting, he noted that in line with the Government’s new policy to ensure merit-based recruitment, all appointments will be made without political interference and strictly according to qualifications and skills. The recruitment process will be governed by transparent procedures under officially prescribed schemes.

“The positions to be filled are considered essential to maintain and improve public services across various institutions,” he asserted.

Parliament had previously approved President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s proposal, in his capacity as Finance, Planning and Economic Development Minister, to allocate Rs. 10 billion from the 2025 Budget for these new State sector appointments. 

He said the new recruitments are part of the recommendations submitted by the special committee chaired by the Secretary to the Prime Minister to assess the staffing needs of Government institutions and provide recommendations on necessary appointments. 

Following a proposal by the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Governments, he said the Cabinet of Ministers directed the relevant Ministries to begin immediate action. 

Dr. Jayatissa said the applications will be called in accordance with the recruitment procedures set out in the official program titled “Program to Recruit 30,000 Unemployed Graduates and Youth to the Government Service Proposed by the Budget 2025.”