HNDA holders storm Jaffna secretariat

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 August 2004, 02:18 GMT]
Hundreds of Higher National Diploma in Accountancy (HNDA) holders who passed out from Jaffna Technical College Monday picketed the Jaffna district secretariat forcing its closure, demanding that they also should be considered for the appointment under the Graduate Employment Scheme now being implemented by the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government to bring down unemployment in the country.




The Jaffna District Higher National Diploma in Accountancy, Commerce and Management Graduate Society organized the demonstration in front of the Jaffna district secretariat.

The Society in its memorandum submitted to the Jaffna District Government Agent addressed to President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge and Finance Minister Dr.Sarath Amunugama said that according to a Circular No 46/90issued by the Public Administration Ministry fourteen years ago, all HNDA holders should be considered as graduates passed out from a recognized University when recruitment to the government service is made.

The four-hour picketing was called off around 12 noon with the statement by the organizers that they would resume their picketing if the authorities failed fulfill their demand within two week's time. Copies of the memorandum had been sent to Jaffna district parliamentarians and other related government authorities.

The meeting between the Sri Lankan government peace secretariat chairman Dr.Jayantha Dhanapala and district Government Agent and Jaffna University Vice Chancellor was earlier scheduled to be held in Jaffna district secretariat. But the venue was shifted to the Jaffna office of Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Refugees Ministry because of the picketing by HNDA holders, sources said.