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Youth service Council and Ranil Wickremesinghe the political

phenomenonDear Speaker,

Youths who are in the age range from 14 to

23 /24 are revolutionary prone and restless.

According to information available, there are

12 ½ lakhs youths in the country. A majority

of them are job seekers. hence, those in the

age range of 17 to 23 should be integrated

into the society. We therefore should render

the maximum assistance to the youths. The

youths who enter our training camps are

provided with free official clothes, lodging,

food as well as an allowance during the period of training.

The aforementioned is an excerpt of the

speech made by the then State Minister, Late

J R Jayawardena in Parliament on 7th April

1967 when presenting the bill on the

voluntary youth service Council.

After the National youth service bill was

passed by the UNP on behalf of the SL’s youth

generation, the Minister of Youth affairs and

employment at that time, Ranil

Wickremesinghe, in his characteristic style gave it a new boost and a vibrant

direction. He got down to work swiftly and surely launching the Youth

service Councils whereby many thousands of youths gained in diverse ways.

Hon. J R Jayawardena

Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe

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Assistance was provided to them in countless directions: Information

technology; Music; Dance; singing; acting; Building construction; Motor

mechanism and the area of media. So many of them were trained that even

now those who gained from this training can be met at every turn. There are

many teachers who have been groomed by the youth services in these fields

who are now imparting their knowledge to scores of others.

At that time, Ranil Wickremesinghe the youthful Minister representing the

Biyagama electorate was assigned the portfolio of youth affairs as he was

considered the most competent and knowledgeable on youth activities. Of

course, he lived up to the country’s expectations. Brimming with youthful

enthusiasm and dynamism, he commenced a number of programs for the

youth development and progress as part of his vision.

The Maharagama youth service

Headquarters built on a 16 acre land at

a cost of Rs. 500 billion is an absolute

testament to his vision, daring and

capabilities. This National Youth service

Headquarters had many divisions noted

below:

A three storey vocational training center

International Youth conference Hall

Auditorium

Indoor and Outdoor stadium

Swimming pool

Recording studio

Stage for plays, dramas and acting

Library

Administration Division

International Youth conference Hall

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Canteen

Youth service Council Departments

Youth service Co. Ltd.

Youth service property Co. Ltd.

Youth service (music) Co. Ltd.

Youth service (Dance) Co. Ltd.

Printing Department

The Youth service Council Printing Press commenced with an initial

investment of Rs. 150,000/- brought in an annual income of Rs. 12 lakhs at

that time.

Belwood village

The Belwood village constructed on 18 acres of land in Nuwara Eliya is the

brainchild of JR Jayawardena :

the aim of Belwood village

inaugurated on 2nd September

1982 was to enroll youths

possessing talent and skill in

the fields of music and dance ;

television techniques etc. These

youths were given Hostel

facilities while they were being trained. There is a host of reputed artistes

who got training at Belwood village, to name a few...

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Singers

Chandralekha Perera

Vandana Liyanarachchi

Chandrasena Hettiarachchi

Somasiri Medagedera

Prins Udaya Priyantha

Dancers

H.M. Ratnayake Vipula Jayashantha

Ramya Sriyani Galkotuwa Upananda Thalgahakotuwa

Music Directors

Sirley Waijayantha

Sangeeth Wickremesinghe

Shantha Jayalath Tissera

Nihal Gamhewa

Uditha Ruwan Wijeratne

Sound Controllers

Senaka Abeysinghe Namali Dharmakeerthi

Charith Wijekoon (Rupavahini)

Kulasiri Baduwatte and Kusum Wickremesinghe were the two Artistes who

were in charge of the Dance academy of Belwood College.

Under the NYSCO youth skills project, a special program was launched with

the objective of helping the youths to secure employment in various spheres

– sports; cultural; dance troupes; music; photography and cassette

Chandrasena Hettiarachchi

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production. During that period 26 cassettes relating to youths were

released.

Establishment of Training camps

National Youth service Council which started with just five training camps in

1980 grew swiftly to 17 camps in 1985 solely due to Ranil Wickremesinghe’s

initiative and efforts.

Training camps

Under the SLFP Govt., the much

carefully UNP built National Youth

service activities diminished and came

to a grinding halt during SLFP’s seven

year reign to the detriment of the youth

generation specially and the country in

general. The youth activities were

exploited for personal agendas and

political gains. It received minimum

State support. In 1970, the SLFP Govt.

allocated Rs. 75 lakhs for youth

activities, and in 1976 it was drastically

reduced to Rs. Six lakhs.

After Ranil Wickremesinghe took control, he ensured that allocations are

increased, and also annually. The following shows how he increased it:

Year 1985

Amount received Rs. 247,00,000/-

Recurrent expenditure Rs. 325,00,000/-

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Capital expenditure Rs. 33,00,000/-

The above accounts clearly illustrate the difference between the two

Governments: indifference of the other Governments towards youth

progress, and the attention lavished by the UNP Govt. towards them -the

minimum interest shown by the SLFP Govts. and the optimum interest

shown by the UNP towards the progress of the youth generation and

development of youth activities.

National Youth service programs and milestones

Under the local and foreign youth exchange program, SL youths toured

China, Canada, Persia, Britain, Malaysia, Philippines and India at the

invitation of those countries, enabling our youths to gain first hand

knowledge hitherto not accessed.

The youths worked in collaboration with the SL Police, Colombo plan office to

control the drug menace.

Fishing folks in the coastal villages were regularly met, given advice and

educated on their occupation.

Seminars were regularly held to educate the Estate workers including

women.

Promoting essay, Drawing and poster competitions, in order to educate the

people on the importance of environmental protection.

Besides, training and skill development in the following fields were also

provided:

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Motor mechanism; Masonry; agriculture ; mask manufacture ;agriculture;

Bamboo , cane ,Indikola, Batapola crafts; electrical works; Motor cars and

motor bike repairs; Building construction; Driver training; media; computer

training; printing ; plumbing ; iron foundry; animal husbandry; handicrafts

and many others.

No task was too small or humiliating to the National youth services –

seminars were conducted for shanty dwellers, at Wanathamulla, Kirilapone

and Kochchikade with a view to elevating their lifestyle.

Popularizing the University youth program which commenced in 1980.

The Youth service Council which began 23 projects on June 23rd 1979

completed all of them and even commenced another 53 new projects before

that year was out.

By October 1985, the membership of the Youth Council swelled to 3826

despite the odds and obstacles placed by reactionary Governments. Through

the Youth programs: sports training camps and scouting camps, the

membership shot up to over three lakhs.

NYSCO Aid program

The NYSCO aid project which commenced on 1st July 1981 distributed

portions of land

at Rs. 20.00 among the youths for development .

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The remarkable development and growth of youth services was

demonstrated by the increase of membership from 1379 in 1981 to 19743 in

1985. By the end of the year the membership grew to 106605 members

By the end of the tenure of Office of Ranil Wickremesinghe as Minister the

membership strength had grown to a colossal one million six thousand.

The Youth activities, programs and progress began to take a downturn when

a fierce competition arose after reactionary Forces took over – the SLFP

Govt. trying to claim credit unjustifiably that they have contributed to youth

progress, while the JVP clamoring that it is they who could handle the youth

problems, with the inevitable result – the youth activities getting neglected

and undermined to the despair of the youths and detriment of the country.

Hence, if one dispassionately examines and judges the youth problems one

could clearly understand who gave the answer and a lasting solution to the

young generation issues.

Some of the State media personnel who from dawn to dusk criticize the UNP,

sit back, relax and try to soberly understand the truth in the right

perspective and without political prejudices, they may perhaps be able to

realize they too have gained wittingly or unwittingly, directly or indirectly

from the youth programs launched by the UNP and Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Only, they have to think rightly and patiently before allowing their tongues

to precede their thoughts.

At any rate, let it be made abundantly clear that the present generation of

youths who have an understanding of the facts as they truly are, do not give

credence to the hollow accusations based on abysmal ignorance of the facts

and selfish prejudices.