Youth Parliament meets in January

The maiden sessions of the Youth Parliament will be held under President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s patronage on January 12 at the National Youth Centre in Maharagama.

A Youth Prime Minister, Speaker, Cabinet and Youth Parliamentarians will be selected. The Chief Returning Officer of the Polls was Youth Affairs and Skills Development Ministry Secretary S S Hewapathirana.

Hewapathirana said the elections were held under the supervision of the Divisional Secretaries and the guidance of the Youth Services Officers. Youths of all communities took part in voting. Elections were held in 332 Divisional Secretariat Divisions, polls were conducted at the Puthukudiyiruppu Division.

Hewapathirana said that 1,395 candidates were in the fray and 160 members have been elected to the government group while the Opposition has 160 members. The 13 members elected to the Cabinet will join the Government Group. Therefore the Government group will have 173 members. He also said that 29 females have been elected. This will be the composition of the Youth Parliament. News lk.