Sri Lanka, Jan. 23 -- The Government's ambitious programme to mobilise the country's cohort of unskilled youth has got under way with the announcement of implementation mechanism yesterday.

All recruits to the proposed 'Multi-Purpose Development Task Force' will be absorbed into the permanent cadre of the public service from October 1 following a seven-month training programme, the President's Media Office said in a press release yesterday.

The Government has called for applications from the unemployed youth between 18-45 years, who have educational qualifications below the ordinary level, for the establishment of the task force.

The initiative aims to recruit 100,000 low income youth to fill many unskilled employment opportunities in ...