The Hon. Eranga Gunasekara - Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs

¶ 01 Madam Deputy Chairperson, it is my privilege to address the Tenth historic Parliament. I first thank the people of the Colombo District, including Kolonnawa, and all Sri Lankans — Sinhalese, Tamils, Burghers, Muslims and Malays — for helping form this people’s Government.

¶ 02 After the presidential election, our NPP invited the people to join a great Shramadana to cleanse this Parliament of corruption and allegations. We invited all communities to this cleansing. A former Acting President scoffed on television, asking, “Are we Abans?” The people taught him an unforgettable lesson by delivering 159 seats to the NPP — the greatest mandate in history.

¶ 03 This did not happen in a day. For years, many comrades wrote, spoke and acted for this transformation, often paying with their futures or even lives when few believed. I remember with love their sacrifices as we now build this historic Parliament.

¶ 04 Two years ago the people’s uprising — Aragalaya — transformed our social landscape. It sought to end family rule, punish thieves, recover stolen wealth, and change the system. Our people’s Government exists to realize those foundational aspirations.

¶ 05 Some in the seasoned Opposition still cannot grasp this change, clinging to episodes from 30–40 years ago. One called our victory a wave or “tsunami.” That misunderstands what happened. This is not a mere wave. The NPP’s political process matured step by step over years; this is a democratic Government built on the organized power of workers, fishers, students, youth and professionals — a stable, massive people’s force now embodied in state power.

¶ 06 For the first time, the people and the Government are one. The people sit with us, strengthening the Government’s programme. That is the nature of this mandate — a great popular awakening, not just a swing.

¶ 07 Over 35 percent — 8.5 million — of our population are youth. Yet the country has become one they flee, not “a country one wants to live in” as past rulers promised. Youth face ten primary challenges we have identified: - Loss of economic opportunity - Lack of quantitative and qualitative education - Pressures from racism and religious extremism - Disillusionment and mental stress - A degraded political culture - A lost cultural life - Inability to keep pace with science and technology - Deteriorating health - Exposure to narcotics - Environmental and climatic crises

¶ 08 Our intervention is not ad hoc politics but a scientific, planned process to integrate youth into political, economic and social life — to build a contented, free-thinking, smart generation. We have consulted domain experts for years to shape concrete short-, medium- and long-term responses.

¶ 09 Economically, youth unemployment exceeds 26 percent. Jobs are bound up with social and cultural life. We recognize employment as a right of youth. Recruitment will not be reduced to height or body size, nor made a political fief. We will institute a scientific, orderly framework for youth employment.

¶ 10 There are over 35,000 unemployed graduates. We must not park them at desks. Within the coming year, we will place them in suitable employment matching their qualifications, while reforming education to equip our graduates to compete in the global labour market.

¶ 11 We are preparing three special programmes for immediate youth issues: - V4R: a new digital platform to mobilize youth innovators - Evening programme “11135”: to strengthen rural youth in IT and English - MMC: a new project to empower youth through multi-purpose centres

¶ 12 On sports: it builds physical and mental well-being, yet our sports have been politicized for years. We will depoliticize national associations and clubs. For example, at Sugathadasa Sports Complex, political parties have used facilities without paying — arrears exceed Rs. 11.4 million. Even parties represented here, including the SLFP for its 3 September 2019 anniversary, have not settled dues. To those preaching good governance: please pay what is owed.

¶ 13 Finally, we will step by step rebuild this country with the intelligent, progressive youth. Our Government exists to realize “a prosperous country and a beautiful life.” We invite all youth to be co-owners and, in the coming years, to become the most prosperous stakeholders of our nation. Let us work together.