Unemployment, Cost-of-living Replacing Sri Lankan Joy of War Victory

Attention of the people of this country was entirely focused on the fate of the war till it was brought to an end. Further, people of the majority community in the country were also in a state of preparedness to sacrifice anything to achieve victory in the war. We cannot easily forget the vociferous statement made by politicians at this juncture that the people of this country were prepared to eat even sand to defeat the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
As the Southerners were concerned of the defeat of the LTTE, they were least worried either about the economic crisis the country was faced or their worsening standard of living.

Economic Burdens of Country
Now we can see people focusing attention on the economic burdens they are subjected to as the war has come to an end. People are struggling hard due to their inability to overcome their daily economic challenges as a result of unemployment. Unemployment in the country has risen following closure of many factories due to various reasons.
Meanwhile, unemployed graduates had not only demonstrated opposite the Fort Railway Station on 4 November but also attempted to proceed to the President's House in procession. A tense situation broke out at the scene when the police prevented their forward march using tear gas. Three female graduates were injured and 61of them were arrested during the clash.

Education Factor
Those graduates, who were involved in staging fasting campaigns in October opposite Fort Railway Station demanding employment, demonstrated on 4 November and tried to march towards the President's House. Their claim was that the government has failed to provide them employment although four years have elapsed since they passed out as graduates.
Educated youths in the country are deeply worried that there are no employment opportunities available to them. It is against this backdrop many of them are attempting to migrate to foreign soils by illegal means.
There are reports that thousands of youths who fall under this category have been cheated by unscrupulous employment agents, who had promised them foreign employment. We also hear of stories of hundreds of innocent young men abandoned in mid seas during their voyage to foreign lands.

Impacts of Global Economic Recession
At this juncture we wish to point out that the impacts of global economic recession certainly affects Sri Lanka too. Therefore, the government should come forward to implement massive development projects eradicating wastage and corruption rampant in the country. Only this will open up avenues of employment and help people overcome the economic challenges they are faced with at present.
Moreover, employees attached to the state as well as private sectors fervently hoped that there would be proposals in the budget to relieve them from the present economic plights. They are severely disappointed since a vote-on- account being presented in Parliament instead of a budget.
However, a salary increase will be granted to state employees in January 2010 in retrospective from November, said media minister (non-cabinet) Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena.

Demand of Situation
The statement made by the minister may grant consolation to the state employees. At the same time country is also faced with two elections. As elections are round the corner politicians will offer various promises and pledges to the people saying that people's welfare is there main concern. However, it must be noted that broken promises of the politicians in the past have made the people stage demonstrations today. The demand of the situation is that the government should take constructive steps to resolve the economic problems of the people, without deceiving them by making false promises any further.