Youth exchange program

Wehelle Piyathilake, Maharagama Special Corr

Country Director, World University Service (WUS), Ingrid Knutson of Canada recently met NYSC Chairman and Director General Lalith Pium Perera and National Youth Awards Authority Chairman Senarath Kahandaliyanage and National Youth Award holder Visaka Thilakaratne at the National Youth Centre, Maharagama.

The idea of the meeting is to discuss the possibility of youth exchange programs between Sri Lanka and Canada.

A number of important matters pertaining to the role of the National Youth Services Council (NYSC) and the National Youth Awards Authority and youth development were discussed in detail.

There was an annual youth exchange program between the two countries and it was cancelled due to the poor atmosphere of the country a few years ago. The possibility of restarting the Sri Lanka-Canada Youth Exchange Program from 2011, was discussed.

Ingrid Knutson promised the NYSC officials to bring this proposal to the notice of the Canadian Ambassador. Further, she agreed to introduce the National Youth Award (Duke of Edinburgh Award Program) Program to the participants of the Vocational Training supported by WUS and its partners.