SL to host World Youth Summit

Secy Gen briefed on progress achieved by youths:

Sri Lanka will be the venue of the World Youth Summit to be held in 2014 with full backing of the United Nations Organization.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon officially intimated this to Youth Affairs and Skills Development Minister Dullas Alahapperuma when the latter met him in New York on the sidelines of the 67th UN General Assembly Sessions.

A press release by the Youth Affairs and Skills Development Ministry said this would be the first time, the World Youth Summit is held in an Asian country and selection of Sri Lanka as the venue is a victory achieved by the Sri Lankan government and the youth generation. The mission accomplished by President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the government in stabilizing democracy and communal place and harmony would have been a factor for selecting Sri Lanka as the first nation to host this summit.

Sri Lanka proved the ability to conduct international conferences of this nature by hosting the Non Aligned Summit in 1976 and the SAARC Heads of State Summit. Hosting the World Youth Summit would contribute towards a youth reawakening in the country.

The release said Minister Alahapperuma briefed the Secretary General on the progress achieved by the youths in Sri Lanka during the conflict and the post-conflict period.

Minister Alahapperuma and his delegation also met UNDESA Director Daniela Bars and discussed arrangements for the 2014 World Youth Summit.

They also discussed measures to obtain the contribution of Tamil and Muslim youths towards the national development effort. Bas expressing her sentiments, lauded Minister Alahapperuma and the government's efforts to empower youths and direct them on the correct path by creating the Youth Parliament.

UN Representative on Youth Affairs Nichola Menas was also associated at the talks.