Top priority for youth By Ananda Kannangara Youth unrest has become a common problem in the world today. Meanwhile, global statistics indicate that the youth population is on the increase. Those between the ages of 15 and 24 are considered as being the youth. When the youth population is increasing, each country will have to seek solutions for their needs and solve their buring issues. According to our own statistics, a majority of youth in this country are awaiting jobs after completing their secondary education, while others who have sound financial backgrounds continue with their higher studies here or abroad. Governments of the past also focussed on youth but it lacked initiative. When President Mahinda Rajapaksa was elected in 2005, he had to face two major problems. He bravely faced these two problems and he successfully overcame these challenges. People in the country as well as several world leaders praised the step taken by the President to crush the LTTE. When President Mahinda Rajapaksa was elected in 2005, he had to face two major problems. He bravely faced these two problems and he successfully overcame these challenges. People in the country as well as several world leaders praised the step taken by the President to crush the LTTE The President thereafter, focused attention on the unemployement problem. He called ministers and directed them to start small, medium and large-scale industries in their areas. Bank interest rates were drastically reduced to enable individuals to start business activities. Accordingly many industries were established in the country. These development plans helped the Government to reduce the unemployment problem to a great extent. The President amalgamated three important institutions, the National Youth Council, Maharagama, the Vocational Training Institute and the Ministry of Youth Affairs to strengthen the employment generating sector. These three institutions are responsible to generate employment opportunities in the country. In addition, the President took measures to strengthen the employment sector of Sri Lankan migrant workers. He found thousands of job opportunities for migrant workers through the Sri Lankan Bureau of Foreign Employment . In addition to Middle Eastern Countries , Sri Lankans were able to find jobs in countries outside the Middle East. They found jobs in Italy, Korea ,Singapore and Honkong. The Government’s next aim to establish youth clubs in the country is another step taken to provide employment after vocational training. The youthful Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa has taken the sole responsibility to give a helping hand to the youth population. He has commenced several job orientation programs and vocational training courses for the benefit of underprivileged youth with the help of the National Youth Service Council (NYSC), Maharagama. In an interview , NYSC, Chairman, Lalith Piyum Perera said there are nearly 10,000 youth clubs all over the country . The Government has allocated Rs. 800 million for the welfare of youth. The money will be utilised to start various vocational training courses , maintain youth service centres and also provide equipment for youth who undergo training. “We have already started vocational courses such as motor mechanism , carpentry, woodwork masonary and electrical work etc. According to reports over 50,000 school leavers are engaged in these courses at countrywide vocational and training centres,”. He said the NYSC has also started computer and English courses so that they are geared to find employment here and abroad. He said the NYSC has another plan to commence courses in tourism. Sri Lanka expects over 15 lakhs of tourists in the coming years. As we need young people to promote tourism, the objective is to start vocational courses in tourism to enable Lankan youth to work in hotels. “We have also planned to start a `Jobs Network’ via Internet , so that youth all over the country will get the opportunity to find international jobs within a short duration via the internet”, Perera said. Perera also spoke about the newly formed `Youth Parliament’ and said the objective of this novel program is to give an opportunaty to youth to show their talent, while improving their leadership qualities. “There are 332 members in the Youth Parliament and they have been selected from every district in the country. These youth are also given a comprehensive training on how to become future leaders in the country,”. The NYC Chairman also said special programs for the benefit of a large number of youth in the Northern District have already commenced and a large sum of money has been allocated to set up vocational training centres. “We also have plans to start computer training centres and English Language classes at several key places in the North,” He said the Government’s plan is to start development projects and Industries in the Jaffna Peninsula, so that a large number of youth will be trained. Lalth Perera also spoke about several development programs at Belwood Village in Kandy. He said this Aesthetic school has already trained over 1,000 youth in low counrty and up country dancing , Eastern and Western singing, Karnatake music, Barata Natyam and Kathak dancing etc. He also highlighted about the youth exchange programs and said steps have been taken to exchange youth from the South to the North and vis a-vis as such programs will strengthen unity among Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, Burgers and other communities. A program to conduct sports events and cultural events among youth clubs in the South and North is another plan as such programs will also bridge the gap between various communities.