Convener of the unemployed graduates association Dhammika Munasinghe said they were getting an allowance of a mere Rs. 10,000 with no leave and female graduates given only six months of maternity leave.

Munasinghe said their requests included a national employment policy for graduates, jobs for all unemployed graduates, a halt to political recruitment, filling all existing vacancies and extending the age for recruitment from 35 to 45 years.

The prime minister has accepted all these requests, but no programme is in place for their implementation, he charged.

In the meantime, the government said 5,500 graduates would be recruited in January, but only 2,600 were given appointments on the 13th for one year training, he said.

Most graduates have to do their jobs in outstation areas and their accommodation and meals will cost more than their allowance, said Munasinghe.

They demanded the government provided them with proper appointments with a basic salary.