Political affiliations not considered in appointing graduates to public service

The Public Administration Minister has emphasized that there will be no political interference in recruitment of graduates to the Public Service. Minister W.D.J. Seneviratne emphasized that they will be entitled to all privileges in the Public Service after receiving permanency in six months.

The Minister opined that his Ministry of Public Administration and Home Affairs published a paper advertisement calling for applications from graduates who had passed out from University to be appointed to the Public Sector.
Accordingly, he said that they received nearly 50,000 applications. He denied that the graduates were granted appointments on a political basis. The Minister claimed that even a graduate affiliated to the United National Party who had contested polls had received an appointment. Even those affiliated to the JVP and those holding the post of organizer in the Opposition had been granted appointments. No one had been rejected due to political affiliations. As such he emphasized that appointments had been given sans political affiliations.
The Minister revealed that they will also be qualified to receive permanent appointments after the six-month training period. The Minister said that thereafter they will entitled to all privileges enjoyed by the public sector employees.
The Minister was addressing a media conference in Colombo today. Ministry Secretary P.B. Abeykoon also made certain clarifications at this news briefing.