The Jayagamu Sri Lanka job programme, implemented by the Labour and Foreign Employment Ministry, according to the concept of Labour and Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara, was successfully held in the Vavuniya district on March 29 and 30.
The programme benefitted the youth community, professional community, overseas jobseekers and their family members.
The programme held at the Vavuniya Gamini Maha Vidyalaya Stadium was attended by a large number of officials representing government institutions along with young people who are looking for jobs in the Vavuniya district, those seeking jobs abroad, parties in need of job counselling and encouragement, children of families of expatriate workers and school students.
One of the highlights of the two-day programme was the ‘Smart Youth Club’, which was led by Minister Nanayakkara, where schools and young children participated.
Minister Nanayakkara explained the importance of working with the government and registered agencies for their dream of going abroad. He requested them not to give money to scammers who promised to obtain foreign jobs.
“We are working to treat you more as a province that has received less attention,” he said, for the district was neglected due to the 30-year war.
The Minister said that expatriate workers have played the biggest role by sending dollars to the country.
State Minister for Rural Affairs Kader Masthan, Wanni District Coordination Committee Chairman – Member of Parliament K. Thilipan, Wanni District UNP organiser Mahendra Raja Mayuran, Labour and Foreign Employment Ministry Secretary Ananda Wimalaweera, Vavuniya District Secretary Sarathchandra, Brigadier Shehan Fernando, Manpower and Security Department Director General, Labour Department Deputy Commissioner, Minister’s Personal Advisor Shyam Yahampath, Regional Secretaries, Board of Directors of Foreign Employment Bureau, members of expatriate workers’ families, owners of licensed foreign employment agencies and additional secretaries of the Ministry participated in the event.
Members of migrant workers unions of Vavuniya district also participated in discussions with the Minister and the ‘Garu Saru’ programme was also held. Under the ‘Garu Saru’ programme, which gives respect to the work of those employed in the informal sector in Sri Lanka, the professionals employed in the informal sector of Vavuniya district were given the opportunity to certify their skills. Letters for that purpose were presented to the workers by Minister Nanayakkara.
The ‘Garu Saru’ programme which was started to give the proper environment, practical qualification, stability, awareness of professional rights and the respect due to the informal professions is also a concept of Minister Nanayakkara.
The Foreign Employment Bureau awarded cash prizes to four expatriate workers who returned to Sri Lanka from overseas jobs and successfully engaged in business activities, and monetary assistance was also awarded to 15 expatriate workers who came back to Sri Lanka and engaged in self-employment.
Appreciating the contribution of migrant workers to the country’s economy, spectacles were given to the members of their families.
In addition, 80 children of expatriate workers working abroad and expatriate workers who have come back to Sri Lanka were awarded school equipment and Grade 5 scholarships. GCE scholarships were also given to 17 children of migrant workers who passed the O/L and A/L. At the same time, measures were taken to provide four smart boards for schools where the children of migrant workers study.
On the first night, a music concert was held. On the second day, the Minister joined the inspection of foreign employment agencies established at the Gamini Maha Vidyalaya Stadium.
Ten thousand young people were given the necessary provisions for professional training under the President’s Fund. School equipment sets were also given to schoolchildren of families of expatriate workers through the ‘Shrama Vasana’ programme and school equipment was given to selected schoolchildren of low-income families representing every divisional secretariat of the Vavuniya district.
‘Jayagamu Sri Lanka’ will be held next in the Gampaha district. There is an open invitation to the citizens who are engaged in services and jobs related to the Gampaha district and who are looking for jobs at home and abroad to participate in the nationwide mobile job programme which will be held on April 5 and 6 at the Gampaha Municipal Stadium.
