SJB to field young candidates for Local Government and Parliamentary Elections

SJB Parliamentarians Imthiaz Bakeer Markar and Mayantha Dissanayake with Party Coordinator for Homagama Eranda Walianga at a press conference held yesterday

By Asiri Fernando

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has decided to allocate more nominations from the party for Local Government and Parliamentary Elections to ‘young’ candidates in the future, Parliamentarian Imthiaz Bakeer Markar said yesterday. 

Markar made the comments at a press conference held at the Opposition Leader’s office, where he was joined by SBJ Youth Wing Leader MP Mayantha Dissanayake and Coordinator for Homagama Electorate Eranda Walianga.   

“According to our demography, more than a quarter of the population are between ages 15-30. However, as a country, we do not have enough ‘young’ persons in the decision-making process, where decisions about their future are being made. This is a sad situation. We have understood that the space for young persons without a political background to enter into policy-making is lacking. Therefore, the SJB has decided to give an opportunity to young persons who do not have a political background to become candidates for the upcoming elections,” Markar said, adding that he had tabled a member’s private bill in Parliament, seeking to make it mandatory for young persons to be given a 25% quota for candidacy to run for office. 

Markar called on all political parties and movements to support his bill and provide an opportunity for greater representation of young persons in the policymaking circles. “Following the troubles and uprisings of the ’80s, the Youth Commission pointed out that the established systems kept youth participation at a low level, they pointed out the irregularities and abuse of power when recruiting persons to the public service and highlighted the negative impacts of political influence. These findings are even valid for today,” he argued. 

The Opposition Parliamentarian pointed out that young leaders were given more opportunities and were performing well internationally, citing examples from Finland, Canada, Indonesia and Kerala in India. 

“Letting the youth vote isn’t enough, we need to give them a say in how their future is charted. Having a political family background should not be seen as a disqualification. However, it should not offer privileges or preference in obtaining candidacy. SJB’s new constitution is one of the most democratic systems and was drafted based on the bitter lesson of family or preferential politics we saw in the United National Party,” Markar opined.