Unemployed graduates from across the Eastern Province staged a protest in Trincomalee today, rallying outside the Office of the Eastern Province Governor to demand urgent intervention over what they described as ongoing discrimination in government appointments.
The demonstrators called for the immediate granting of appointments through competitive examinations and accused authorities of systematically excluding graduates from the Eastern Province from public sector employment.
Protesters carried placards with messages including “Talks are enough, give us jobs,” “Why is the Eastern Province ignored in government service?” and “No more exams, hire on merit,” underscoring their frustration over repeated delays and a lack of transparency in recruitment processes.
The protest comes amid longstanding grievances in the North-East regarding access to employment, with Tamils and Muslims frequently raising concerns about unequal access to Sri Lankan government services, under-representation in state institutions, and a lack of development funding.
