Youth rallying round President - Minister Dissanayake

by Nimal WIJESINGHE-Anuradhapura Additional District Group Correspondent.

A political awakening is visible among young voters especially those eligible for the franchise for the first time, Petroleum Resources Minister Duminda Dissanayake said.

He said the youth of this country have witnessed the warheroes fighting the LTTE terrorists under the command of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. They are well aware that the President is armed with a broad national vision to make the country prosperous.

The President and his policies have energised them; young men and women trust him and are rallying round him, Dissanayake said.He was addressing a gathering of youth seeking membership of the SLFP's Anuradhapura district youth organisation.Dissanayake said it was not a surprise, under these circumstances, that grown-up sons and daughters of traditional UNP and JVP supporters join the SLFP.

They have the firm belief that their problems related to employment and University education would be solved permanently by the direct intervention of the President.

The Minister, in the capacity of the Deputy Chairman of the SLFP's Youth Organisation, appealed to the youth not to fall prey to bankrupt politicians engaged in vituperative and hypocritical politics to gain power.