The government’s decision to absorb 45,585 graduates to the state sector was not done targeting the general elections, Co-cabinet Spokesperson Bandula Gunawardane said today. Gunawardane’s comments came after Election Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya had yesterday (4)  ordered the Public Administration, Internal Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government Ministry Secretary to suspend the training programme for newly recruited graduates until a week after the election results were published. Deshapriya had further stated that complaints had been received regarding this matter and that recruiting these graduates would amount to promoting political agendas. “The new government’s decision to absorb 45,585 graduates end of February was in line with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s election promises.To absorb 45,585 graduates is not a part of an election ploy.” He said the government was not able to implement the promise in January due to technical difficulties. Gunawardane added that the graduates had to be trained for a 1 year period from 1st March 2020 to 1st March 2021 and that the training period was suspended due to instructions by the Election Commission. Gunawardane noted that the discussions will be held with the Election Commission today to sort out the matter.