Comments on: Chaos in Colombo: Mêlée over jobs indicates a serious economic problem in Sri Lanka?

By: Anushka Wijesinha

Anushka Wijesinha — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 09:29:08 +0000

The full report by the IPS, with the results from the snap survey referred to in this post is now available on our blog http://ipslk.blogspot.com/2011/08/korea-calling-results-from-snap-survey.html

A pdf of the special report is available via Scribd here – http://www.scribd.com/doc/62069061/Korea-Calling-Talking-Economics-Special-Report

By: Sagara nanayakkara

Sagara nanayakkara — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 06:52:42 +0000

In reply to georgethebushpig. You are right georgethebushpig! That's why SL government uses security forces for other civil duties at the moment. Waste management in Colombo seems to be successful after the Ministry of Defence has taken control of it.

By: georgethebushpig

georgethebushpig — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 20:35:32 +0000

What we seem to be forgetting is that we still have 15% below the poverty line (less than US$1.50 a day); that’s 3 million people!

I also have a hard time believing that there is only 4.5% unemployment in Sri Lanka. On the other hand, given the massive recruitment drive by the forces over the last few years I guess we found a way to address our unemployment problem! I guess this poses a real barrier to demilitarization.

I wonder what the under-employed rate is? You know, graduates etc. working in menial jobs.

By: muzammil

muzammil — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 11:25:37 +0000

Srilanka is fast becoming an employment agency rather than agricultural
or industrial.We are talking about dignity,honour,heritage and cultural
pride and a whole lots of other self glorification while in real truth
ready to sell ourselves to any price to anyone for anything.Is there
any single leader to look at this trend differently? When is this human export going to stop?Are srilnkan mothers giving birht to children to live seperated and not as a family.What a tragedy.

By: Sagara nanayakkara

Sagara nanayakkara — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 05:36:17 +0000

I do not believe that figure (4.5%) of unemployment rate in SL. A country like Australia also has about the same rate of unemployment which is considered as total employment or close to it. At this kind of unemployment rate, you may not expect people wondering in streets during the working hours as you see in SL. These figures are just fabrications of Central Bank of SL.

By: Luxman Siriwardena

Luxman Siriwardena — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 03:44:59 +0000

In reply to Sad but Sane. Hey Anushka, this queuing for Koreean jobs or US visa lottery or jobs in Japan does not indicate the level of youth unemployment. It only indicates the disparity of relative wages between two countries at a given stage of economic development. If World Bank or ADB positions are freely available how many well employed Sri Lanka researchers or academics will resist the temptation to apply?

By: Sad but Sane

Sad but Sane — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 19:05:09 +0000

LTTE, Tamil Diaspora and Western Governments are the reasons for this chaos I, the patriot proudly declare!!

By: Thilina Rajapakse

Thilina Rajapakse — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 17:14:06 +0000

Can the author confirm if Sri Lanka adopts the standard international definition of unemployment? If not what is the definition for unemployment in Sri Lanka? Do we consider 15 years as the lower age limit for the work force?

Thank you

By: Sunil

Sunil — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 16:03:00 +0000

In reply to Danushka. Yes, and both the US and Sri Lanka have the same standard of living right? Being unemployed in Sri Lanka has a totally different meaning from being unemployed in the US

By: Sunk

Sunk — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 14:12:53 +0000

In reply to Ragurajahpillai. Really, Raguraja! Were you in Mars in 2005?