President affirms commitment to youth empowerment, economic growth

President Ranil Wickremesinghe poses for a selfie with some of the youth following the meeting at the Nuwara Eliya President’s House

• Highlights inevitability of collective efforts for national development 
• Cautions emerging political youth of Nuwara Eliya against pitfalls of archaic political strategies
• Says overarching goal to boost livelihoods covering all segment of society
• Pledges to nurture budding entrepreneurs via Regional Youth Centres in each Divisional Secretariat 
• Young Parliamentarians explained challenges, submits proposals to support development agenda

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has reiterated his dedication to shaping Sri Lanka into an economy that aligns with the aspirations of its youth. 

Addressing a gathering of young Members of Parliament and emerging political figures from the Nuwara Eliya district at the Nuwara Eliya President’s House on Thursday, he expressed confidence in steering the country towards progress despite economic challenges. 

With a focus on reviving the economy, Wickremesinghe explained the success of his administration in stabilising economic trajectory within a span of two years. 

 He also highlighted the importance of unity in propelling the country forward, underscoring that collective efforts are essential for national development. 

Despite criticisms levelled against the Government’s initiatives for Nuwara Eliya’s advancement, the President asserted that with widespread support, such efforts could catalyse a transformative shift in the economic landscape.

Wickremesinghe also cautioned against the pitfalls of antiquated political strategies, noting the imperative of concerted efforts to attract essential investments for national development. 

He highlighted the people’s jubilant celebration of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year under the Government’s sound economic policies, noting a marked increase in people’s livelihoods across various sectors. His overarching goal, he stated, was to ensure that these benefits reached every segment of society.

The young Parliamentarians explained the President of the challenges they encounter and presented their proposals pertaining to the country’s development agenda.

In a bid to empower the youth demographic, the President outlined plans to establish Regional Youth Centres in each Divisional Secretariat. He also pledged to nurture budding entrepreneurs through these centres, with intentions to engage bank executives and trade board members in the process.

The candidate for Nuwara Eliya District Member of Parliament Ashoka Herath, representing the Samagi Jana Balawega, expressed his endorsement of the President’s program. Despite his affiliation with another party, Herath highlighted the importance of supporting initiatives aimed at national development. Reflecting on past missed opportunities as ‘Yali Pubudamu Sri Lanka’in 2001, Herath lamented the undermining of such initiatives, claiming that Sri Lanka would have already achieved developed status by 2025.

He urged not to undermine the ongoing efforts aimed at transforming Sri Lanka into a developed country by 2048, whilst pledging his support over the next two years to extend President

Wickremesinghe’s leadership, facilitating a revolutionary transformation of the country.

The event also saw the participation of former MP K. K. Piyadasa, former Mayor of the Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council Chandana Lal Karunaratne and a group of former Municipal Councillors and regional youth politicians from the Nuwara Eliya district.