Poverty alleviation programs under two stages

(FASTNEWS | COLOMBO) – Former State Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara says the government will launch two key programmes to rid the country of poverty.

Speaking at a rally in Balangoda, Nanayakkara said the United National Party raised many objections over the government’s jobs programme for unemployed graduates.

He said under the first stage, in a bid to alleviate poverty, the government decided to provide jobs to 59,000 graduates in the state sector.

Vasudeva Nanayakkara claimed that the United National Party complained to the Election Commission that the government was attempting to bribe students, and therefore the present administration was compelled to suspend the initiative.

He noted that following the conclusion of the election, the graduates will be summoned once again and will be granted appointments.

Former State Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara added that since the poorest families do not even have the opportunity to pursue higher education, under the second phase, 100,000 of the poorest families will be granted employment as labourers and they will not be required to sit for any exams.