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Saturday Apr 20, 2024
Friday, 10 January 2020 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The President said yesterday that the public voted at the Presidential Election for proper leadership to guide the country onto the right path and emphasised his eagerness to meet their expectations.
Addressing the Youth Congress of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) held at Temple Trees yesterday, President Rajapaksa said that he was fully committed to fulfilling his promises while understanding the needs of the people.
The President expressed his gratitude to the youth who contributed to his victory.
The President also said that his Government would do everything possible to understand the aspirations and needs of the youth as well as all other citizens. He said that he expected the support of the youth to implement his policies in the same manner in which young people helped him become the President of the country.
He stated that the economy of the country and all State institutions collapsed during the last five years, before pledging to establish a highly efficient public sector which would be profitable while also promising to strengthen the economy. He said that technology should be used as a bridge to work together with other countries for the benefit of Sri Lanka’s future prospects. There is an urgency to change the education system, giving priority to modern technology and information communication, he asserted.
President Rajapaksa also pointed out that expediting this process would create a large number of employment opportunities for the youth while paving the way for them to earn a higher income. The President stressed that young people and university students must endeavour to take up jobs when they reach the age of 20, using developed countries as an example. He also asserted that the time had come to rectify the ill-effects caused by ragging at universities.
“The development of information technology will lead to enhanced self-employment opportunities in many other sectors,” he said. The President said growth in the tourism, plantation and agricultural sectors would not only be a solution to the issue of unemployment in the country but would also make the national economy stronger. The President advised the youth to use their time wisely without falling prey to misguided information. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said the youth had demonstrated their eagerness to make a positive impact through recent initiatives launched by them.
The youth are the strength of a country, the Prime Minister said, commending the leadership taken by them to overcome challenges.
The congress, which was held with the participation of youth representing 160 electorates, was attended by Ministers Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene, Dullas Alahapperuma, Bandula Gunawardana, Dilum Amunugama, Indika Anuruddha and several others representing various fields.
