More than 77 per cent of Sri Lankan graduates work in the public sector, a report released by the Tokyo-based Asian Development Bank (ADB) said.
The report titled ‘Strengthening Active Labor Market Policies to Drive an Inclusive Recovery in Asia’ further said that graduates whose skills do not match the available occupations in the market and lack specific skills prefer to ‘queue up’ for government jobs.
Majority of the graduates prefer jobs in Sri Lanka’s public service due to job security and financial security, as well as receiving a fixed salary and pension during the employee’s lifetime. On the other hand, the youth’s inability to get ‘better job opportunities’ in the private sector leads to dependence on public sector jobs.
The report further pointed out that it is important for the government to prevent recruiting graduates in public sector jobs continuously to simply absorb unemployed graduates, and instead focus on systematically recruiting skilled people to ensure efficiency and effectiveness.
Former Minister Mervyn Silva and two other individuals were granted bail today (July 03) by the Gampaha Provincial High Court.
They were released on a cash bail of Rs. 200,000 and five personal sureties of Rs. 5,000,000 each.
Additionally, the court imposed overseas travel bans on them.
The defendants were strictly warned to refrain from influencing witnesses and were ordered to report to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) every Sunday.The defendants were previously remanded over allegations of selling a state-owned land in the Kiribathgoda area using forged deeds.
Monara TV, launched with much fanfare just a year ago under the Swarnavahini media network, has reportedly shut down operations.
Employees have been informed that the closure is temporary, citing the need to resolve certain administrative issues.
The channel, led by Buddhika Wickramadhara, was ceremonially launched on June 25, 2024, with a grand event at Waters Edge.
Producers who supplied teledramas to Monara TV say they are owed nearly Rs.200 million in unpaid dues.
Meanwhile, it is reported that the parent Swarnavahini TV channel is also reportedly grappling with a serious financial crisis, paying teledrama producers only after 60 episodes are broadcast.
Producers claim they are compelled to wait about 03 months to recover an investment of around Rs.15 million per teledrama. Even then, payments are made in small portions, covering just 05 episodes at a time.
Producers who supplied teledramas before the appointment of Mr. Susara Dinal as CEO say it is even harder to claim their outstanding payments, as they have been asked to recover the dues from former CEO – Udara Wijesinghe.
The Swarnavahini Media Network is owned by Subaskaran Allirajah – Chairman of Lyca Group, which also owns Lycamobile, a global telecommunications company.
