Unemployment rate among Sri Lankan youth is high, senior minister says

A senior Sri Lankan government minister says that the unemployment rate among the youth with G.C.E. (O/L) and G.C.E. (A/ L) qualifications has increased although the overall unemployment has declined to below 5 percent.


Senior Minister for Human Resources D.E.W. Gunasekera has said that the unemployment rate among GCE O/L and A/L qualified youth ranged between 15 to 20 percent.

The Minister has said that priority should be given to create employment opportunities for this segment.

Gunasekera has explained that nearly 500,000 youth with GC.E. (O/L) qualifications and over 300,000 with G.C.E. (A.L) qualifications enter the labor market annually.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet has approved the formulation and implementation of a National Human Resources Development and Employment Policy.

The Cabinet memorandum had been submitted by Gunasekera and a strategy and an action plan are to be formed in collaboration with other relevant ministries, private sector organizations and trade unions.