The monthly allowances promised by the Government for newly recruited graduates are yet to be paid, The Sunday Morning learnt. Development Officers’ Service Union (DOSU) President Chandana Sooriyarachchi told The Sunday Morning that the appointments had been questioned by the Election Commission (EC) as the appointments were made after the election had been declared. However, since the elections had been postponed, the Government had transferred the recruited graduates to the Office of Medical Officer of Health (MOH) with the coronavirus pandemic, he said, adding that there were graduates who had given up their previous jobs to get government appointments. “The families of these graduates are not even entitled for any government allowance as they have been given the appointments,” Sooriyarachchi said. The union is to meet the EC Chairman next week to discuss the matter. The Government earlier promised the newly recruited graduates the March allowance of Rs. 20,000. However, EC Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya ordered the Secretary to the Ministry Public Administration, Internal Affairs, Provincial Councils, and Local Government to suspend the training programme for the newly recruited graduates until a week after the election results are published. Appointment letters were said to be issued to 45,585 graduates by the end of February before the dissolution of Parliament. Meanwhile, when The Sunday Morning contacted Co-Cabinet Spokesman Dr. Ramesh Patirana, he noted that Cabinet approval had been granted to provide the allowance for the graduates last Wednesday. “The Government will pay the allowance as promised,” he assured. By Maheesha Mudugamuwa