Sri Lanka to host 2014 World Youth Summit

Monday, 8 October 2012 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The first World Youth Summit to be held in the Asian region will be held in Sri Lanka in 2014. This has been officially announced to Sri Lanka by the United Nations.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon officially made this announcement to Youth Affairs and Skills Development Minister Dullas Alahapperuma when the minister met him in New York on the sidelines of the 67th UN General Assembly Sessions.

A press release issued by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Skills Development Ministry stated that the selection of Sri Lanka as the venue for the 2014 World Youth Summit is a victory achieved by the Sri Lankan Government and the younger generation.

The mission accomplished by President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Government in stabilising democracy and peace and harmony would have been a factor for selecting Sri Lanka as the first Asian country to host this summit. It went on to say that hosting the World Youth Summit would contribute towards a youth reawakening in the country.

The release also said that Minister Alahapperuma briefed the Secretary General on the progress achieved by the youth in Sri Lanka during the conflict and the post-conflict period. Minister Alahapperuma and his delegation has also met UN/DESA Director Daniela Bas and discussed arrangements for the 2014 World Youth Summit.

They have also discussed measures to obtain the contribution of Tamil and Muslim youth towards the national development effort. Bas has lauded Minister Alahapperuma and the Government’s efforts to empower youth and direct them to the correct path by creating the youth parliament. UN Representative on Youth Affairs Nichola Menas has also attended these talks.