Appointment letters to unemployed graduates:

President questions EC’s move to stop graduate training programme

• He questioned certain provisions in the 19th Amendment and asked whether the commissions created by the 19th Amendment were actually independent

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday said that the directive by the Elections Commission to stop the training programme for graduate recruits to the government service was wrong.   

Speaking to Newspaper Editors and electronic media heads at the Presidential Secretariat he said that he would be writing to the Commission soon explaining about it. “I don’t understand why a training programme should stop. Their appointment letters had been posted. It’s a training programme given for the government recruits. I don’t understand why it should stop. The appointments were not political and they were not chosen on political criteria,” he said.   

The President said that there should be a basis for what the Elections Commission had done. “I don’t see any basis for it and we would be writing to them stating our position,” President Rajapaksa said.   

When asked about the upcoming general election and as to why the government was seeking a two thirds mandate, the President said that there were many obstacles created in the form of constitutional amendments brought during the previous regime that hinders delivering promises given to the people. He said that a two thirds majority was needed to change such constitutional obstacles and fulfill the mandate given at the Presidential election.   

He said there should be separation of powers between the different branches of the state for smooth governance and the powers of the executive and the legislative should not overlap with each other. “When that happens it is difficult to govern and those who were instrumental in bringing these constitutional provisions too later realised it,” he said.   

He questioned certain provisions in the 19th Amendment and asked whether the commissions created by the 19th Amendment were actually independent.   

“We could see that in the way some members of the elections commission acted during the last election. One member was writing his opinions in the newspapers,” he said.   

He questioned the reason to have an in Independent Police Commission which in itself was politically appointed. 

I don’t understand why a training programme should stop

i’m not behind it

By Yohan Perera  

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday refuted the claims made by the government that he had got the election commission to cancel the appointments given to 44,000 unemployed graduates in the state sector and said he will provide employment to them within a week if elected as the Prime Minister.  

Mr. Premadasa told a media conference that he would provide permanent employment to all unemployed graduates within a week if elected as the Prime Minister.   

Asked as to how he could ensure his election victory and under which party or symbol he would contest, Mr. Premadasa said these would be finalised soon. 

Mr. Premadasa said the government had ample time to provide employment to the graduates but did not do it. “The government promised to provide employment to all unemployed graduates during the Presidential elections. Then a promise was given that they will be given appointment in January. Then the government said it will be done in February. This followed by another assurance that it will be done in March. Finally they posted appointment letters shortly before the dissolution of Parliament. However the Chairman of the Election Commission cancelled the appointments claiming them to be a move to capture votes. Why blame me for this? He questioned, while stating that the graduates were to be paid only Rs 20,000, Mr. Premadasa said this allowance will be increased if he is elected as Prime Minister in April this year.   

Gota and EC  lock horns over  The suspension of appointments

By Sujith Hewajulige and Dayana Udayangani   

With the suspension by the Election Commission the Government appointments given to 45, 585 graduates, a serious crisis situation is now emerging between the Government and the Commission. This crisis situation has resulted with the Government levelling severe criticism at the Commission for suspending the appointments to Graduates.   

The Government argues that these appointments were made well before the declaration of the General Elections and therefore the Election Commission has no right to suspend such appointments. The Election Commission in return maintains that granting appointments during an Election is an offence according to the Election Laws.   

The sources at the Election Commission reveals that the Chairman of the Commission Mahinda Deshapriya is holding steadfast on the decision made by it in suspending the appointments, and he has already given instructions to all returning officers and Deputy Election Commissioners to implement this decision strictly. This direction had been given by Deshapriya at a special meeting he has had with members of the Commission, District Returning Officers, Deputies and assistant Election Commissioners yesterday at the Commission office.   

Meanwhile, despite the training planned for these Graduates recruited for Government Services has been suspended by the Election Commission, the Cabinet Spokesperson, Minister Bandula Gunawardene said.