The Hon. Danushka Ranganath

¶ 01 [5.14 p.m.]

¶ 02 Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker, for the opportunity to move the Adjournment Motion.

¶ 03 I move:

¶ 04 “Under the theme ‘Ensuring youth engagement for the Sustainable Development Goals’, we celebrated International Youth Day on 12.08.2025 against a backdrop where tens of thousands of Sri Lankan youth have renewed hope about their future.

¶ 05 For any country’s development, youth must be actively integrated into the economy, and the real fruits of growth should reach them. Youth should become stakeholders in economic activity, free from exploitation and discrimination, able to fulfil aspirations and live freely with meaning for themselves and the country. A practical programme is needed to make tomorrow stronger and more stable for youth.”

¶ 06 For decades, the aspirations of our youth were suppressed by political power games, sometimes even costing thousands of young lives. Previous rulers ignored youth voices. Our Government has presented a comprehensive programme for youth.

¶ 07 Youth unemployment rose due to inadequate opportunity and guidance under previous administrations, contributing to their fall. Many lacked proper vocational education; some dropped out of school.

¶ 08 As a nation, we must empower youth, who adapt quickly to new knowledge. We should provide facilities for learning and build a compassionate, inclusive youth community, based on principled politics. We are building that framework. Because of prior neglect, unemployment and poverty rose and youth emigration increased. Since our Government took office, youth have renewed hope. This is not a time to fear the future.

¶ 09 Thank you for the opportunity.