Colombo (News 1st); The program to provide employment opportunities to 100,000 poor families will commence on Wednesday (September 02), said the President’s Media Division.

The PMD said the objective of the programme is to empower those who live in absolute poverty with no formal education and skills through the Multi-Purpose Development Task Force established by the government.

Job recipients are selected on the basis of the following criteria; 

• Unskilled workers who have no formal education or with education lower G.C.E. Ordinary Level examination.
• Must be not less than 18 years of age and not more than 40 years of age on the closing date for applications.
• Being unemployed member of a family eligible to receive Samurdhi benefits but does not receive it, or being a member of a family receiving Samurdhi benefits but unemployed.
• Being an unemployed member of a family with elderly, sick parents or disabled members.
• Be a permanent resident of the area of application.

Following a successful training, the applicants will be employed in his/her area of residence or in nearby areas,

During 6-month continuous training programme a monthly allowance of Rs 22,500 will be paid, said the President’s Media Division.

Following successful completion of the training program trainees will have the opportunity to be appointed to an accepted permanent government position in his own residence area with a non-primary skilled salary of Rs. 35,000 and allowances.

After a satisfactory and uninterrupted career record of 10 years he/she will be eligible for pension, said the PMD.

Employments will ONLY be awarded based on above criteria and any form of bribery will result in immediate rejection of the job opportunity.

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