President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that in 25 years when the country has reached the path of success, the youth could proudly say that, “It was the step taken by us today that led to the system change which paved the way for the country’s success.”
He was addressing the orientation workshop for youth representatives of the Sectoral Oversight Committees of Parliament at the Waters Edge Hotel, Battaramulla yesterday.
The President said that an opportunity has been provided to youth to contribute to the journey towards a developed Sri Lanka by 2048. He said that providing the youth representatives the chance to participate in the Sectoral Oversight Committees of Parliament was a novel approach adding that it has not yet been done in any other country.
The President also expressed confidence that this is the system change that the youth demanded for and that they will take maximum advantage of this opportunity. “This is a historic moment. For the first time, a Parliament has appointed representatives like this. This has not happened anywhere.”
The orientation workshop was organised by the Parliament of Sri Lanka with the support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena and Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa also spoke.
Following the publication of a newspaper advertisement, these youth representatives were chosen for the Sectoral Oversight Committees related to 17 subject areas in Parliament. Among the applications received by the Secretary General of Parliament of Sri Lanka, nearly 550 eligible youth representatives between 18-35 years were invited for the workshop. These Sectoral Oversight Committees function with the participation of parliamentarians representing all political parties in Parliament. According to the provisions of the amended standing orders passed by Parliament, the chairperson of a Committee can call five youth representatives each to assist the Committees regarding the inquiries led by these Committees, so it is expected that the youth representatives will be selected in relation to each Committee.