Some 64,000 unemployed university graduates will be given suitable jobs in the public sector or other agencies within the next month, Urban Development State Minister Gamini Lokuge said.
Speaking at a press conference after the assumption of duty of Urban Development State Ministry Secretary Prof. Ranjith Dissanayake at the ministry premises on Tuesday, Lokuge said these employment opportunities would be provided to all unemployed graduates regardless of their political affiliations.
He said the graduates would be able to pursue higher education with the financial support they receive from these employment opportunities.
He added that forming a new ‘pool of labour’ with the aim to granting jobs to low-income families would be completed this month. A total of 1,000 graduates would be recruited to the pool from each electorate.
Asked about the new trend in painting frescoes on public walls, the State Minister said the Government acts as a facilitator and does not intend to restrict it with strict regulations. A mechanism would soon be developed to protect the street art being painted in various places across the country. No posters would be allowed on them, and the regional administration would be entrusted to protect and maintain them.
State Minister Lokuge added that obtaining permission from the regional administration or the head of the institution to which that property belonged, is sufficient to paint a fresco on a public wall.
State Minister Secretary Prof. Dissanayake said the beautification of cities would be undertaken adopting green concepts.
“We have many new concepts in the pipeline. We will launch new projects throughout the country while continuing the existing programmes. We have a large team of engineers to support our endeavours, and we will create the beautiful cities that people look forward to,” he said.
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