Senior Adviser to the President on National Security and Chief of Presidential Staff Sagala Ratnayaka emphasised the need for a generation of youth with progressive attitudes to advance a new economy.
He made these remarks as the special guest on the second day of the sixth session of the Fifth Youth Parliament of Sri Lanka.
The session took place on June 8 and 9 at the Presidential Secretariat Auditorium.

Senior Adviser to the President on National Security and Chief of Presidential Staff Sagala Ratnayaka speaks at the Fifth Youth Parliament.
On the first day, the special guests included Minister of Tourism, Sports and Youth Affairs Harin Fernando and National Youth Service Council Chairman and Director General Pasindu Gunaratne.
On the second day, Ratnayaka attended as the special guest, alongside K. Maheshan, Secretary of the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, and Pasindu Gunaratne. The session focused on discussions related to the proposed Economic Transformation Bill and the development of a national youth policy tailored to current needs, highlighting the importance of a stable economic policy.
A total of 62 members participated on the first day, and 79 on the second day, representing all members of the Youth Parliament. Ratnayaka addressed questions from the young parliamentarians and also participated in awarding certificates to members for their active participation.
Addressing the Youth Parliament Ratnayaka further said:
“In today’s session, there was an extensive discussion on youth policy and the Economic Transformation Act. The President is dedicated to building a new economy for the future of the youth.
The last significant economic shift in the country was the introduction of the open economic policy in 1978/79. Since then, there have been modifications, but no entirely new economic framework was established, hindering our progress in a competitive environment.
“Political influences have significantly impacted our economy, affecting the attitudes of our youth. As we move forward with a new economy, it is essential that the attitudes of the youth evolve accordingly. Without improvements in education, knowledge, and training, economic reforms will not yield the desired benefits. The President consistently emphasizes this point.
“It is crucial to provide the necessary training for the new economy to our children from now on, preparing their minds for future challenges. We must embrace new ideas, retaining beneficial practices and discarding ineffective ones.
The new programme should adopt only the positive aspects and leave behind the weak elements.
“The Government is committed to both youth development and the implementation of new legislation to support this goal.”
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