“We are creating a powerful Sri Lanka for future generation”: PM

Saturday, 28 January 2017 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Wednesday said the Government was working to create a powerful country for the future generation through the ‘Balagathu Sri Lanka’ program and new development programs had been initiated for the benefit of the youth of the country.

“We are creating a powerful Sri Lanka to give you a powerful future, for you to live in this global village with pride,” the Premier told the members of the Youth Parliament, expressing optimism that a young generation that could project a powerful image of Sri Lanka in the world could be groomed through the Youth Parliament.

The inaugural session of the fourth Youth Parliament organised by the National Policy and Economic Affairs Ministry and the National Youth Services Council this week at the Parliamentary Chamber of the National Youth Council in Maharagama.

Addressing the Youth Parliament, Wickremesinghe said that economic stability and peace were imperative for the country’s progress and that the Government had laid the platform to achieve economic prosperity and durable peace in the country.

“We need to go forward speedily, development has to be rapid. The question is when do you want to see the development, in 10 years, 20 years or 30 years? We are creating a powerful Sri Lanka according to that plan,” the Premier said.

The Prime Minister said Sri Lanka’s development was stalled due to the 30-yearconflict with the LTTE and therefore urged the youth to work in coexistence with different communities.

He noted that Sri Lanka was unable to achieve the expected development even after the end of war because the country marched in national disunity. He said that the present Government had been able to consolidate democracy and national unity to move the country forward and was committed to rebuilding the country with the support of the international community.

The Prime Minister said the Government had prepared plans to strengthen the economy during the next decade. The middle class will be developed through creation of jobs and high income avenues.

He said that a new constitution would be drafted without harming the unitary character of the State while respecting the Sri Lankan identity and protecting fundamental rights of the citizens. The Prime Minister, emphasising that the main challenge before the present Government was to develop the hitherto broken down economy, requested the contribution of members of the Youth Parliament towards the Government program to build a powerful Sri Lanka.

Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapaksha, State Minister Niroshan Pereraand National Youth Services Council Chairman Attorney ErandaWeliangage were among the participants.

The Youth Parliament comprises 225 youth parliamentarians, 176 of whom are appointed through the votes of members of the Youth Clubs. The rest has been selected representing the National List. New MPs were appointed for the positions of Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Deputy Chairman of Committees for the Youth Parliament during the session.