2026-02-05 / Adjournment and Adjournment Questions 2026-02-05
## Summary
Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara directed a series of questions to the Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education regarding unemployed graduates and Development Officers serving in schools, seeking data on graduate unemployment, government employment provided, sectoral breakdown, and the status of approximately 16,000 Development Officers functioning as teachers pending absorption into the Sri Lanka Teacher Service.
The member highlighted a specific inconsistency: a Special Gazette issued on 2 February 2026 set a qualification cut-off date of 30 June 2025 for Sri Lanka Teacher Service recruitment examinations, yet the President met with Development Officers the following day and reportedly assured them they could sit the exam — raising questions about which commitment accurately reflects government policy. He argued the cut-off date unfairly excludes graduates who completed degrees after June 2025 due to disruptions caused by COVID-19 and the 2022 economic crisis, and that certain subjects including Sociology, Archaeology, and History were omitted from the recruitment scheme.
Jayasekara proposed that the qualification cut-off be adjusted to the Gazette publication date of 2 February 2026, that excluded subjects be incorporated, and that approximately 500 candidates who passed the Education Service Examination be posted to provincial schools to fill vacancies arising from retirements. He also noted that with around 50,000 graduates still unplaced and only limited recruitment capacity available, a significant portion would remain ineligible, and called on the government to act before the Opposition is compelled to mobilise in support of affected youth.
Hon. Presiding Member, at the Adjournment, I direct the following question to the Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education. I believe our Hon. Minister in charge is also present.
1. What is the current number of unemployed graduates in Sri Lanka?
2. How many graduates have been given employment under the present Government?
3. How many such employments have been given, disaggregated by sector?
4. How many Development Officers are currently functioning as teachers?
5. How many Development Officers have been absorbed into the permanent Sri Lanka Teacher Service under the present Government?
6. Will Development Officers currently functioning as teachers but not yet absorbed be recruited into the Sri Lanka Teacher Service?
7. If so, by when?
Your manifesto pledged to promptly provide 35,000 jobs to unemployed graduates under a structured process. The President later asked candidates to sit for examinations. Many were left disappointed. Around 16,000 Development Officers are serving in schools, have engaged in prolonged protests including hunger strikes, and recently met the President who promised they could sit for the exam and remain in schools without being transferred out.
However, on 2026.02.02, a Special Gazette was issued to conduct an exam for recruitment to the Sri Lanka Teacher Service, stipulating that required qualifications must have been fulfilled by 2025.06.30. The Gazette came on 02 February, and the meeting with the President was on the 3rd. Who is being misled here?
I request that applicants be allowed to apply based on the Gazette date, because many graduates received their degrees after 30 June 2025 and would be unfairly excluded. Please revisit and resolve this. Moreover, subjects like Sociology, Archaeology, and History have not been included; this is a serious injustice. Students faced disruptions due to COVID-19 and the 2022 crisis; please grant relief so all are eligible to apply by adjusting the cut-off to 2026.02.02.
Another matter: candidates who passed the Education Service Examination should be posted to Provincial Schools—during my time as Chief Minister we absorbed such candidates. About 500 are waiting; please issue the necessary letters to fill vacancies created by retirements.
Further, around 50,000 graduates remain without placements—many cannot access technical posts approved by the Prime Minister’s Committee. Even if they apply now, only a small number will be recruited, leaving over 25,000 ineligible. We are not seeking political advantage; we are seeking a solution for these youth. If the Government does not act, we in the Opposition will be compelled to support them.