PM calls on youth to play a greater role in reconciliation for country’s development

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe says reconciliation is a necessary factor for the country’s development and the youth can play a leading role.

Speaking at a function held at the Temple Trees yesterday, the Prime Minister said peace within the country needs to be protected and rapid development needs to be initiated within the next 10 years to ensure a bright future for the country’s youth.

“When looking at the path of involving youth in the development process, we must pay particular attention to ensuring them with a bright future through the creation jobs and a steady source of income. It is only through uplifting our youth that the country will be uplifted. And that is where our attention is focused,” the Premier said.

He said that when Maithripala Sirisena took oaths as the President of Sri Lanka in 2015, the government made a decision to revive the Youth Council in order to take the youth of the country forward.

“We removed politics from the equation and created Youth Parliaments. We need to increase the number of youth organizations and strengthen the Youth Parliament. In order to achieve this, we must encourage more young leaders to join this movement,” he said.

The Premier pointed out that the Youth Council must take steps to create an inclusive program which provides leadership opportunities, not only in the village grassroots, but in a variety of sectors.

He said the government has decided to increase the funds for the ‘Gamata Kotiyak’ youth program, through which the youth of several villages demonstrated great leadership skills.

“We are including the youth of Sri Lanka in this process after nearly two decades. Our goal is to go forward with the youth of Sri Lanka and give them a better future,” he said.

“When looking at the path of involving youth in the development process, we must pay particular attention to ensuring them with a bright future through the creation jobs and a steady source of income. It is only through uplifting our youth that the country will be uplifted. And that is where our attention is focused,” the Premier said.

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said initiatives will be taken to identify the talents of the young men and women of the country and build the economy through this path.