Lankan youth on path to success

By Nilma Dole

The Sunday Observer spoke to National Youth Services Council Chairman, Lalith Piyum Perera who has steered forward the concept of ‘Sri Lanka Youth’. Here are excerpts from the interview:

Q: Can you describe the management of the National Youth Services Council (NYSC)?

A: The National Youth Services Council functions as a statutory body under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Skills Development. The Director General supervises all activities pertaining to the NYSC and authorises activities for youth development. The Council is responsible for youth policy matters and consists of members nominated by the Minister. The Directors, Deputy Director and Assistant Director deal with the implementation of various development programs and projects of the Council.

Q: What regional presence does the NYSC have?

A: Activities are decentralised at a provincial level and branch offices are established in the nine provinces islandwide. Every provincial office is headed by an Assistant Director under whom the District Youth Services Officers co-ordinate activities at a district level. In a collective effort, they undertake the implementation of the projects and organisation of various programs directly targeted at youth development. Implementation is done at a grass roots level under the guidance of superior officers at the National Youth Centre.

Q: Tell us about the National Youth Centre of the NYSC?

A: In fact, the National Youth Centre at Maharagama is considered to be one of the largest centres for youth in Asia, proving how much we value youth in Sri Lanka.

The National Youth Centre consists of a building where vocational training courses are conducted.

We also have a state-of-the-art multi-purpose hall which can be used as an auditorium or an indoor stadium. A television studio, exhibition hall and a fully-equipped library are also within the premises of the Centre.

We also provide hostel facilities for about 170 people who have been selected from all parts of country when they train here. The Centre has already earned a reputation as a vital centre for youth in Sri Lanka, and is also a central point at which youth can aspire to gain opportunities which enable them to enhance and develop their talents and skills in various fields.

Q: Describe the youth policy of the National Youth Services Council

A: When we were established in 1969, we had a National Youth policy, but now with peace in the country, we decided that youth was the strength of the nation. We broadened our horizons with the implementation of the National Youth Service Act No. 69 of 1979.

We are the only State organisation responsible for policy-making, planning and co-ordinating youth activities at a national level, and whose objective is to promote the interests of youth so as to ensure their full development and participation.

Q: What are the objectives set by the National Youth Services Council in helping Sri Lankan youth?

A: We have a clearly defined set of objectives that we promote, accepting all youth for who they are and setting aside all differences. We foster a spirit of national consciousness, a sense of discipline, an awareness of social and economic problems and a sense of dignity of labour. The development of youth knowledge through knowledge exchange and friendships is also of particular importance.

At the NYSC, we are a point for training in employment, vocational and academia and we promote goodwill and mutual understanding and also enlist the participation of youth in national development schemes.

It is imperative that we widen the knowledge of youth, encourage cultural literacy and artistic activities among youth, encourage development of physical culture and sports among the youth, provide recreational and entertainment facilities for youth.

We also assist youth who are handicapped and ensure that a ‘mobility for all’ policy is maintained at all our youth centres islandwide.

We have a job bank and offer assistance in terms of employment opportunities for youth by constructively investing funds on a long-term policy basis with an aim to strengthen the economic fabric of the State.

We provide opportunities for the participation of youth in the formulation and implementation of policy, establish youth organisational committees and assist organisations already established for youth welfare. We also plan, co-ordinate, promote and direct the expositions of youth services and develop the inherent characteristics of individual youth.

Q: Tell us about the foreign youth exchange program at the NYSC

A: We have a youth exchange program where young people from all over the world come to volunteer in Sri Lanka in exchange for a place to stay.

We have youth from Manchester, UK who help Sri Lankan youth. They live in Sri Lanka and teach English at our youth centres islandwide and they will also be supporting our youth development activities.

We also see lasting friendships being formed and the understanding among youth from different countries.

It is important that we preserve our ethics and values, but it is also vital that we are technologically sound.

Nowadays, Sri Lankan youth are very up-to-date about technology, but we aim to make them understand that no matter how modernised we are, we need to ensure that we instill our traditional values in our youth.

Q: What is the ‘Sri Lanka Youth’ initiative, an integral part of the NYSC, in which the ‘Tour De Sri Lanka Youth 2011’ race comes under?

A: The ‘Sri Lanka Youth’ initiative is the new symbol to describe Sri Lanka’s youth, under one banner.

The ‘Tour De Sri Lanka Youth 2011’ comes under the Sports and Recreation segment of our Council, but we also assist in vocational training services, cultural and aesthetic programs and national youth awards for outstanding achievements.

We have youth clubs and meetings, capacity building and international youth exchange.

At the National Youth Services Council, we foster not only unity and harmony within the country, but we also have an international mutual exchange of ideas and knowledge to promote peace.

Q: What are the objectives of promoting sporting events such as the ‘Tour De Sri Lanka Youth 2011’ in Sri Lanka?

A: The objective of organising such sporting events is to encourage Sri Lankan youth in sports and recreation, especially for tapping their hidden talents and recognising their achievements.

We found it a good way to promote peace and harmony among youth and to create a platform for youth to share cross-cultural values, norms and experiences and to show the strength of the youth strength in peace building locally and internationally.

The tour took a route from Batticaloa to Tissamaharama with a stop at Siyambalanduwa which proved how safe Sri Lanka is for youth to travel without any hindrance.

We wanted to show that this was possible, by organising a race of this nature that united youth and promoted peace within the communities.