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President Ranil Wickremesinghe announced that the "Gen Z Dialogue" initiative will bring the perspectives of the younger generation into the governance process. To support this effort, the National Youth Service Council will be tasked with establishing youth centers at the national, provincial, district, and regional levels and organizing these dialogues.
The President made this statement while addressing the "Puluwan Sri Lanka" National Youth Conference, held this morning (30) at the Maharagama Youth Service Council. The event saw participation from youth leaders representing every divisional secretariat across the island.
Emphasizing that the future of the country lies in the hands of today's youth, the President committed to equipping the Gen Z generation with the digital knowledge and tools needed to thrive in a rapidly advancing technological world. This includes providing training in digital marketing, freelancing, and offering free services to clients, which will open new avenues for income generation. Additionally, the President highlighted plans to implement training programs in commercial activities.
The President also noted that a robust economy would foster a modern agricultural culture and promote environmentally-friendly tourism, creating the necessary environment for youth to find employment and start new enterprises.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe stated his intention to create an environment that encourages greater youth representation in the political arena. He also announced plans to establish a Youth Parliamentary Advisory Office to enhance the political knowledge of the younger generation.
The President expressed his aim to develop Generation Z into a group capable of assuming leadership roles in the country. He highlighted that the hopes of the youth, which were shattered in 2015 and 2020, have been revitalized through the "Puluwan Sri Lanka" program.
Speaking further at the event, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said:
All of you here today are part of Generation Z, the generation that will lead this country in the future. There is often talk about Generation Z being outsiders and disconnected from Sri Lankan politics.
The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) claims that the country has seen no progress in the last 75 years, a statement made from this very Youth Service Council. However, this council did not exist in 1948—I was the one who established the youth clubs and later formed the Youth Service Council. So, to say that the country has not progressed is not an accurate assessment.
It's true that our country's economy has not been strong, and now we must focus on how to strengthen it. Many young people feel disillusioned, saying they voted in the 2020 elections but were let down, or that they supported the good governance movement in 2015, only to have their expectations unmet. This disappointment has led some to reject politics altogether.
The JVP, however, claims they were never in power. My friend, former minister Mr. Anura Kumara Dissanayake, says this, but I remember that Sajith Premadasa, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Wijayadasa Rajapaksha, and I have all served as ministers.
During the 2020 parliamentary elections, I warned that there was an economic crisis and that failing to secure 3 billion US dollars would result in an economic collapse. This truth led to the United National Party's defeat. If speaking the truth means losing votes, then I should have exited politics. But I stayed because the country needed saving, and I stepped in to secure a future for all of you. We must all embark on this journey together—failing to do so would be a grave mistake. Remember, the decisions we make today will shape your future.
We have to decide whether we are thinking about 5 years ahead or 25 years ahead and building the country. Some people said that there is no point in thinking about 2048. But we say that we should focus on 2048. Thailand and Vietnam became a trade economy thinking about the future. But why don't we think about it?
If there is a problem, they say that we will subsidize this. But there is no problem solving, that is what has happened so far. That's why this vote is important. That day I rebuilt the economy of this country. Now we have to decide which way to go.
We have to decide whether we will become an export economy, or we will continue to borrow from this level and fall in another 15 years. In another 15 years we will have to suffer without gas or electricity. That is why we negotiated with the International Monetary Fund and worked to pass the Economic Transformation Act to move towards an export economy. I am asking for a popular mandate in this presidential election to implement it.
For the youth, we have presented the youth spring through the manifesto "Puluwan Sri Lanka". It mentions digital marketing, freelancing to provide free services to clients, e-commerce, use of social media.
And we hope to have a dialogue (Gen Z Dialogue) with the new population. There should be discussions between us to solve the country's problems. It should be done at national level, provincial level, district level and local level. Youth centres are being established for that. The Youth Service Council is entrusted with the responsibility of organizing that discourse.
Youth must be represented in the political arena once again, and we must create the necessary facilities to make this happen. We have proposed involving young people in the parliamentary sectoral committees. While some committees are functioning effectively, others have not been active. I plan to address these shortcomings and implement a more robust system in the next parliament.
The policy statement also emphasizes the importance of youth involvement in areas beyond just the "Youth Spring" initiative. For the past four years, we have been unable to create jobs. To address this, we aim to generate 100,000 new income opportunities for young people next year. Additionally, we will establish a dedicated unit to support those who are permanently self-employed in the agriculture sector.
We also plan to provide funding for vocational training to 50,000 more young people, allowing them to choose an institution for their training. By 2025, we aim to create 150,000 new job opportunities.
Simultaneously, we will focus on providing training to young people and offering support to companies hiring new employees. As the economy grows, new job opportunities will naturally arise.
We also plan to revamp the vocational training sector by consolidating all current vocational training institutes into a single vocational college. Furthermore, we are working towards establishing technical and management colleges in every province.
The development of the tourism, agriculture, and industrial sectors creates new job opportunities. Additionally, youth representation will be increased in the ‘Jana Sabha’ (People’s Assembly) of every Grama Seva Division. Jana Sabha will be established to enhance youth participation, and we plan to implement these initiatives in collaboration with the Youth Service Council.
Furthermore, new legislation will be introduced to allow citizens to petition Parliament to hold debates. If a petition is signed by 100,000 voters requesting discussion on a particular issue, Parliament will be required to address it.
A second council, including women and youth representatives, will also be established. A decision will need to be made regarding the re-election of these representatives. Through these initiatives, I aim to integrate youth more fully into society.
I have reviewed the manifesto of former minister Mr. Anura Kumara Dissanayake. While it mentions creating suitable jobs for youth, establishing a bank to provide information for unemployed youth, advancing the competitive examination system for government jobs, and offering vocational training for those who have completed A-levels, it lacks specifics on where and how this training will be provided. There is also no clear plan for job creation, which is a notable difference.
The manifesto also suggests establishing a development bank to provide loans to young people and claims that youth will gather in Youth Service Council branches. However, the Youth Service Council does not have branches; it has youth clubs. Writing policies without understanding these details undermines their credibility.
I also reviewed the proposals of former minister Mr. Sajith Premadasa, which include only 49 words about young people. They have not even dedicated 50 words to the youth. If you are considering entrusting the future to these individuals, it is up to Generation Z to make a decision about their own future.
My goal is to empower Generation Z to become a capable group ready to take on the leadership of this country. If there is a need for someone to lead, there should be no hesitation. We are working to nurture a generation of young people who are confident and prepared to take on the leadership of this nation without fear.
Chairman/Director General of the National Youth Services Council, Pasindu Gunaratne;
Today, I stand as a representative of the youth who believe that we “can” rebuild our nation. Just two years ago, our country, weary from long queues and shattered dreams, was being compared to nations like Zimbabwe and Lebanon. If our banking system, public services, and security forces had crumbled, we wouldn’t be here today. Many of our friends, who never imagined leaving this country, chose to leave during that difficult time.
On that day, a group of youth approached President Ranil Wickremesinghe. He predicted that our country would face bankruptcy within a year, and it happened just as he said. Yet, he also assured us that we could recover within a year, and true to his word, President Wickremesinghe managed to pull the country out of bankruptcy in a remarkably short time. Now, on September 21, we must make a critical decision: whether to allow our country to regress to the state it was in two years ago or to continue moving forward.
No leader in this country has done more for the youth than President Ranil Wickremesinghe. There is no better place for him to address the youth of this nation than the National Youth Services Council, established four decades ago to uplift our youth community. Mr. President, as the youth of this country, we stand here today to declare that we are not ready to let our nation move backward.
Youth Activist, Nirashan Withanage;
Mr. President, each young person here has different dreams, but we all share one common aspiration: we want a country that “can” make those dreams a reality. The youth of this nation believe that you are the true leader in Sri Lankan politics who “can” build that country.
When young lives were lost in the queues, when fathers struggled for breath, when education was disrupted and hope seemed out of reach, and when mothers spent their days in gas queues, you brought relief and a glimmer of hope to our lives. You are the real leader. True leadership is demonstrated in the face of challenges, and the youth of this country are not willing to hand our future over to Anura and Sajith to experiment and gamble with.
This motherland is calling upon its youth. We urge you to lend your strength to the task of rebuilding our country. It is your responsibility to support President Ranil Wickremesinghe, the leader who can guide our nation forward. Will you be swayed by empty promises? Will you leave our future to chance and risk leading the country into another crisis? The choice is yours.
I ask you to search your conscience and consider whether we, as young people, should make a decision that could one day be cursed by the children born today, by contributing to the downfall of our motherland through a misguided political choice.
At the "Puluwan Sri Lanka" National Youth Conference held at the Maharagama Youth Services Council, President Ranil Wickremesinghe responded to several questions posed by the youth.
Question:
Mr. President, what do you mean by ‘Theravada Economic System’ mentioned in your policy statement?
Response:
In the past, our country was a central hub in the Indian Ocean, functioning as a trading state. Goods from regions, including China, were brought to Sri Lanka for exchange. This trade was centred around Hambantota and Trincomalee, with our products being exported as the "Granary of the East."
When our trading system declined, Thailand inherited that prosperity. Later, in the 18th century, Thailand’s state collapsed, but both nations rebuilt their economies after gaining independence. We opened the economy. Thailand advanced with an export-driven economy, following its old methods, whereas we did not.
In 1960, Sri Lanka’s per capita GDP was USD 144, compared to Thailand’s USD 104. Today, Sri Lanka's per capita GDP is USD 3,828, while Thailand's is USD 7,172—almost double ours.
Similarly, Vietnam followed the Thai model. Thailand and Sri Lanka were historically major Theravada Buddhist nations with significant trading economies. In 1990, Sri Lanka's GDP was USD 8 billion, while Vietnam’s was USD 6.5 billion. By 2023, our GDP reached USD 84 billion, whereas Vietnam’s is now USD 429 billion—five times ours. We’ve stagnated while others have progressed globally.
Our country once had a Theravada economic system, and we propose to revisit that approach. The first message of Buddhism was brought to Lanka by two merchants Tapassu and Bhalluka, highlighting the historical connection between our trade and Buddhism.
Question:
Mr. President, your policy statement mentioned digital marketing, e-commerce, and freelancing. Many young people are now freelancing on platforms like fibre. How do you plan to support them?
Response:
We are in discussions with banks to provide financial support for this sector. This should be recognized as a legitimate activity, with appropriate financial support made available. We plan to introduce new regulations and will discuss and decide on these matters. While some countries offer opportunities for this sector, others do not. During economic crises, banks weren’t prepared to take on new responsibilities, but now we are discussing how to move forward with these financial responsibilities.
Question:
Are you planning to solve the housing issues for young people in the plantation sector by replacing line-rooms with villages and individual homes?
Response:
We plan to reclaim the land currently occupied by plantation companies, converting it into government-owned land for building villages and individual homes. We also intend to introduce a loan system for constructing these homes. Once this is done, these areas will fall under the jurisdiction of the Grama Niladhari officers.
Question:
Can you elaborate on the Provincial Youth Centre mentioned in your policy statement?
Response:
We aim to establish a provincial-level centre by bringing together youth organizations from each district. Initially, youth and student leaders from each division will be organized to form divisional centres, which will then lead to the creation of district centres. The Provincial Youth Centre will then coordinate with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and the Youth Services Council, ensuring that necessary financial support is provided by the relevant Provincial Councils, Local Councils, and the Youth Services Council.
Question:
What kind of country can we expect after you are elected as the President in the upcoming election?
Response:
What kind of country do you want?
Youth Response:
A country where the government does not engage in business but allows private enterprises to operate freely*
President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Response:
We need to build a country where people can live, and the youth have a future. We must create a strong economy. My Economic Promotion Act aims to establish a competitive economy through an export-driven, digital and green economy. This is outlined in the 'Puluwan Sri Lanka' policy statement, and we must act on it swiftly.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe:
We are in the presence of the ‘Gen Z’ generation. Why do we call it ‘Gen Z’? All of you live in the era of smartphones. Some say this generation can't live without their phones. Our generation was born when even a household phone was a rarity, and social interactions were direct. Your generation's connections are through smartphones and computers, marking a significant difference. The world views ‘Gen Z’ as alienated from society and government. Is ‘Gen Z’ truly alienated, or are they a part of society?
Youth Response:
‘Gen Z’ is a generation that must be present in this country. As someone born in 1992, I've witnessed all three generations. We’ve adapted to using smartphones and software to enhance our skills and earn a living. We are indeed part of this society.
Question:
Your policy statement mentioned supplying electricity to India, with the Jaffna area as a central hub. What benefits will the youth in Jaffna gain from this?
Response:
When an area becomes a power hub, it attracts new businesses and industries, leading to development. That's the benefit. Additionally, funds will flow in from India, further enhancing the area's growth.
Member of Parliament Premanath C Dolawatta, Chairman/Director General of the National Youth Services Council Pasindu Gunaratne, Presidential Director General Randula Abeyweera for Youth Affairs and Sustainable Development attended the event.
