Second session of Youth Parliament held

The first session of the second Sri Lanka Youth Parliament commenced last Thursday at the Sri Lanka Youth Centre Auditorium in Maharagama with President Mahinda Rajapaksa participating as the chief guest.

The Youth Parliament members were sworn in at the session and the Prime Minister-elect Chamara Uditha Bandara representing the Polonnaruwa district, Deputy Prime Minister-elect G. Rajeewan of the Vavuniya district and Opposition Leader-elect S.S. Manoj Silva addressed the session.

The Youth Parliament cabinet of ministers comprising 412 youth, covering all districts of the island, were sworn in before Youth Affairs and Skills Development Minister Dullas Alahapperuma. The second Youth Parliament comprises 325 parliamentarians and 77 senators. A Prime Minister and a 13-member Cabinet, a Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Opposition Leader, Leader of the House, Chief Government Whip and a Policy Organiser were selected following the conclusion of a three-day workshop conducted at the Thulhiriya MAS Fabric Training Centre auditorium.

Over 540 youth contested for the Youth Parliament while 138 were elected uncontested. Women numbering 44 were also elected.

Ministers Dullas Alahapperuma, Chandrasiri Gajadeera, GaminiLokuge, Duminda Dissanayake and Jagath Pushpakumara, Monitoring MP Mohan Lal Grero, MP A.L.M. Azwer and President of the National Youth Society Pumie Perera were present at the occasion.