Government has deceived unemployed graduates; Opposition Leader

11-Nov-2025

.

The government has betrayed unemployed graduates by failing to fulfil its job-creation promises in two consecutive budgets, causing them mental distress, said Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa.

In a special statement, he added:

During both the presidential and subsequent parliamentary elections, promises were made to provide jobs. Instead, the government used their unemployment to its advantage, created district-level structures, and ensured positions only for the heads of those units, neglecting all other graduates.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake pledged to provide jobs to 35,000 unemployed graduates after coming to power. This promise appears on page 72 of the policy document “A Prosperous Country, A Beautiful Life.”

Both the President and the government have violated this promise in two budgets and now pretend it never existed. Why deceive graduates? Why abandon them?

We urge the government to provide jobs to unemployed graduates. The opposition will fully support this, including supporting supplementary budget allocations. Give them employment at least now.

Stop governing the country through lies. Fulfil the promises given over three elections and honour the aspirations of graduates. Preventing their mental anguish is the government’s duty and responsibility.