SJB requests govt. to ensure 40 percent youth participation in governance

By Saman Indrajith

The SJB yesterday requested the government to ensure through constitutional means at least 40 percent of youth participation in the national legislature as well as at other tiers of governmemt.

Addressing the media at the Opposition Leader’s office in Colombo, SJB MP Bakeer Markar said that the government and other political parties should try to increase the participation of the youth in political institutions besides seeking their votes. “Prime Minister of Finland is a 35-year-old woman. Malaysia’s Youth Affairs Minister is 26 years old. Recently, a female mayor of 21 years of age was elected in a city in Kerala. We must take into consideration such world trends. Soon most of the world leaders would be from the younger generation. Therefore, we urge the government to bring about laws to ensure through constitutional provisions the youth participation in parliament and other administrative bodies.”

He said that he had entered national politics through student politics and youth political forums. “We accepted the recommendations of the Special Commission of Inquiry into Youth Unrest and Rebellion 1989 appointed by President R. Premadasa. However, there was no internal democracy in the party during recent times so we formed the SJB, whose constitution ensures that there could be opportunity for change of leadership of the party every year. I plan to submit a Private Member’s Motion requesting that laws be brought in to ensure youth participation in governance. As it may take some time to permit the moving of the motion I have decided to submit a motion to be taken for debate at the time of adjournment of the House on the same topic. It is estimated that one fourth of the world population is between the ages of 15 and to 29. In Sri Lanka, those below the age of 35 are considered young and more than 25 percent of our population are in that category. Therefore we urge the political parties and civil organisations to support us in our campaign to ensure youth participation in governance.

UNP youth wing leader Attorney-at-Law Eranda Weliange said that the youth accounted for over four million of the country’s population, and the SJB’s campaign should be supported by all political leaders concerned about the future of national interests. “We have a young Youth Affairs Minister. We hope Minister Namal Rajapaksa would look at this issue without being swayed by party agendas and extend his support to this campaign.”

SJB Kandy District MP Mayantha Dissanayake also addressed the meeting.