President Anura Kumara Dissanayake visited the Jaffna District today (31) as part of his ongoing national outreach, marking his first official visit to the region since assuming office. The highlight of his visit was the District Coordination Committee meeting held at the Jaffna District Secretariat (Kachcheri), where he engaged in discussions with regional leaders and government officials regarding pressing issues in the Northern Province.
The meeting was attended by key political figures, including Ministers Bimal Ratnayake and Ramalingam Chandrasekaran, along with several government officials and both ruling and opposition party representatives. The President urged officials to prioritize the needs of the people in the region and to expedite solutions to their longstanding concerns. He emphasized that the development and welfare of the Northern Province must be addressed without unnecessary delays, ensuring that all citizens receive equitable treatment under his administration.
However, while discussions were taking place inside the Jaffna Kachcheri, a wave of discontent was evident outside as unemployed graduates staged a protest, demanding immediate attention to their plight. The demonstrators, primarily young graduates from the Northern Province, voiced their frustration over years of being sidelined by successive governments that failed to provide them with stable employment opportunities.
The protestors accused the previous administrations of neglecting their commitments to creating job opportunities for Northern graduates, leaving thousands in a state of uncertainty. Many carried placards and chanted slogans urging the current government to take corrective action and prioritize their employment.
A key demand put forth by the protestors was for the government to ensure that graduates from the Northern Province, many of whom have struggled through the hardships of post-war recovery, are given fair access to public sector jobs without the barrier of competitive examinations. They argued that, given the challenges faced by students in the war-affected region, alternative measures should be taken to ensure justice and economic stability for the educated youth.
The timing of the protest was significant, as it coincided with the President’s meeting inside the District Secretariat. While there was no immediate response from the government regarding their demands, the protesters expressed hope that their grievances would reach the President’s attention and prompt tangible action in the coming months.
President Dissanayake is scheduled to participate in several other programs during his visit to Jaffna, where he is expected to engage directly with local communities and officials to address broader development concerns in the Northern Province.
