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From Ananda Kannangara in Galigamuwa, Kurunegala

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday assured the youth in the Galigamuwa that at least 500,000 job opportunities for unemployed youth will be created within the next few years by expanding the field of Information Technology.

The Premier also assured youth in the country that the government's targetted two million jobs will be created by expanding other services such as the Colombo Port, the airline service and the tourism sector.

The premier made these observations at a ceremony held at Galigamuwa in the Kurunegala district to coincide with the opening of a new youth centre and a floodlit volleyball court, under the 'Regaining Sri Lanka' concept.

The youth centre and the volleyball court constructed at a cost of Rs. 8 million will be utilised to start an Information Technology centre, English training institute, dancing training centre and a library.

The Premier said that action has been taken to establish another 52 youth centres in divisional secretariats for the benefit of youth.

Wickremesinghe said the government will establish Call Centres which have been established in countries such as India.

Under this call centre system people in the world could make hotel reservations and airline seat bookings without any delay.

At the initial step of this programme, 2,500 youth will be provided job opportunities. The Prime Minister said a fund will be established for youth also follow advanced courses from private training institutions. "Under the programme half of the fee or the full payment will be paid to the institution from the funds," he said.

"As you are aware we are planning programs that benefit the youth in the country, considering the fruitful results we have already achieved from the peace process.

"A huge amount of money which was once diverted to the war could not be utilised to uplift the economy," he said.

The premier also highlighted that the peace process which created a peaceful environment in the country has also encouraged foreign investors to visit our country during the past several months.

Deputy Minister Indika Bandaranayake said that the Government during the past several months has launched several development projects in the Kurunegala district and thanked the Premier for setting up the first youth centre in Galigamuwa as an initial step of this programme.

"Youth are the future leaders in our society. Therefore the Prime Minister must be thanked for understanding the pulse of the youth at this crucial moment. Sports Minister Johnston Fernando and Irrigation and Water Management Minister Gamini Jayawickreme Perera also spoke.

Few hours before the meeting commenced the premier visited several farmer villages including the Mahananneriya farmer colony to discuss with farmers about their agricultural problems.

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