Youth Service Council_en

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Youth service Council and Ranil Wickremesinghe the political phenomenon Dear Speaker, Youths who are in the age range from 14 to 23 /24 are revolutionary prone and restless. According to information available, there are 12 ½ lakhs youths in the country. A majority of them are job seekers. hence, those in the age range of 17 to 23 should be integrated into the society. We therefore should render the maximum assistance to the youths. The youths who enter our training camps are Hon. J R Jayawardena

provided with free official clothes, lodging,

food as well as an allowance during the period of training. The aforementioned is an excerpt of the speech made by the then State Minister, Late J R Jayawardena in Parliament on 7th April 1967 when presenting the bill on the voluntary youth service Council. After the National youth service bill was passed by the UNP on behalf of the SL’s youth generation, the Minister of Youth affairs and employment at that time, Ranil

Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe

Wickremesinghe, in his characteristic style gave it a new boost and a vibrant direction. He got down to work swiftly and surely launching the Youth service Councils whereby many thousands of youths gained in diverse ways.

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Assistance was provided to them in countless directions: Information technology; Music; Dance; singing; acting; Building construction; Motor mechanism and the area of media. So many of them were trained that even now those who gained from this training can be met at every turn. There are many teachers who have been groomed by the youth services in these fields who are now imparting their knowledge to scores of others. At that time, Ranil Wickremesinghe the youthful Minister representing the Biyagama electorate was assigned the portfolio of youth affairs as he was considered the most competent and knowledgeable on youth activities. Of course, he lived up to the country’s expectations. Brimming with youthful enthusiasm and dynamism, he commenced a number of programs for the youth development and progress as part of his vision. The Maharagama youth service Headquarters built on a 16 acre land at a cost of Rs. 500 billion is an absolute testament to his vision, daring and capabilities. This National Youth service Headquarters had many divisions noted International Youth conference below: Hall

•

A three storey vocational training center

•

International Youth conference Hall

• Auditorium • Indoor and Outdoor stadium • Swimming pool • Recording studio •

Stage for plays, dramas and acting

• Library

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• Administration Division • Canteen

Youth service Council Departments • Youth service Co. Ltd. • Youth service property Co. Ltd. • Youth service (music) Co. Ltd. • Youth service (Dance) Co. Ltd.

Printing Department The Youth service Council Printing Press commenced with an initial investment of Rs. 150,000/- brought in an annual income of Rs. 12 lakhs at that time.

Belwood village The Belwood village constructed on 18 acres of land in Nuwara Eliya is the brainchild of JR Jayawardena : the aim of Belwood village inaugurated on 2nd September 1982 was to enroll youths possessing talent and skill in the fields of music and dance ; television techniques etc. These youths were given Hostel facilities while they were being trained. There is a host of reputed artistes who got training at Belwood village, to name a few...

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Singers Chandralekha Perera Vandana Liyanarachchi Chandrasena Hettiarachchi Somasiri Medagedera Prins Udaya Priyantha Chandrasena Hettiarachchi

Dancers H.M. Ratnayake

Vipula Jayashantha

Ramya Sriyani Galkotuwa

Upananda Thalgahakotuwa

Music Directors Sirley Waijayantha Sangeeth Wickremesinghe Shantha Jayalath Tissera Nihal Gamhewa Uditha Ruwan Wijeratne

Sound Controllers Senaka Abeysinghe

Namali Dharmakeerthi

Charith Wijekoon (Rupavahini) Kulasiri Baduwatte and Kusum Wickremesinghe were the two Artistes who were in charge of the Dance academy of Belwood College. Under the NYSCO youth skills project, a special program was launched with the objective of helping the youths to secure employment in various spheres

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– sports; cultural; dance troupes; music; photography and cassette production. During that period 26 cassettes relating to youths were released.

Establishment of Training camps National Youth service Council which started with just five training camps in 1980 grew swiftly to 17 camps in 1985 solely due to Ranil Wickremesinghe’s initiative and efforts.

Training camps Under the SLFP Govt., the much carefully UNP built National Youth service activities diminished and came to a grinding halt during SLFP’s seven year reign to the detriment of the youth generation specially and the country in general. The youth activities were exploited for personal agendas and political gains. It received minimum State support. In 1970, the SLFP Govt. allocated Rs. 75 lakhs for youth activities, and in 1976 it was drastically reduced to Rs. Six lakhs. After Ranil Wickremesinghe took control, he ensured that allocations are increased, and also annually. The following shows how he increased it: Year 1985 Amount received

Rs. 247,00,000/-

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Recurrent expenditure

Rs. 325,00,000/-

Capital expenditure Rs. 33,00,000/The above accounts clearly illustrate the difference between the two Governments: indifference of the other Governments towards youth progress, and the attention lavished by the UNP Govt. towards them -the minimum interest shown by the SLFP Govts. and the optimum interest shown by the UNP towards the progress of the youth generation and development of youth activities.

National Youth service programs and milestones Under the local and foreign youth exchange program, SL youths toured China, Canada, Persia, Britain, Malaysia, Philippines and India at the invitation of those countries, enabling our youths to gain first hand knowledge hitherto not accessed. The youths worked in collaboration with the SL Police, Colombo plan office to control the drug menace. Fishing folks in the coastal villages were regularly met, given advice and educated on their occupation. Seminars were regularly held to educate the Estate workers including women. Promoting essay, Drawing and poster competitions, in order to educate the people on the importance of environmental protection.

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Besides, training and skill development in the following fields were also provided: Motor mechanism; Masonry; agriculture ; mask manufacture ;agriculture; Bamboo , cane ,Indikola, Batapola crafts; electrical works; Motor cars and motor bike repairs; Building construction; Driver training; media; computer training; printing ; plumbing ; iron foundry; animal husbandry; handicrafts and many others. No task was too small or humiliating to the National youth services – seminars were conducted for shanty dwellers, at Wanathamulla, Kirilapone and Kochchikade with a view to elevating their lifestyle. Popularizing the University youth program which commenced in 1980. The Youth service Council which began 23 projects on June 23rd 1979 completed all of them and even commenced another 53 new projects before that year was out. By October 1985, the membership of the Youth Council swelled to 3826 despite the odds and obstacles placed by reactionary Governments. Through the Youth programs: sports training camps and scouting camps, the membership shot up to over three lakhs.

NYSCO Aid program The NYSCO aid project which commenced on 1st July 1981 distributed portions of land at Rs. 20.00 among the youths for development .

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The remarkable development and growth of youth services was demonstrated by the increase of membership from 1379 in 1981 to 19743 in 1985. By the end of the year the membership grew to 106605 members By the end of the tenure of Office of Ranil Wickremesinghe as Minister the membership strength had grown to a colossal one million six thousand. The Youth activities, programs and progress began to take a downturn when a fierce competition arose after reactionary Forces took over – the SLFP Govt. trying to claim credit unjustifiably that they have contributed to youth progress, while the JVP clamoring that it is they who could handle the youth problems, with the inevitable result – the youth activities getting neglected and undermined to the despair of the youths and detriment of the country. Hence, if one dispassionately examines and judges the youth problems one could clearly understand who gave the answer and a lasting solution to the young generation issues. Some of the State media personnel who from dawn to dusk criticize the UNP, sit back, relax and try to soberly understand the truth in the right perspective and without political prejudices, they may perhaps be able to realize they too have gained wittingly or unwittingly, directly or indirectly from the youth programs launched by the UNP and Ranil Wickremesinghe. Only, they have to think rightly and patiently before allowing their tongues to precede their thoughts. At any rate, let it be made abundantly clear that the present generation of youths who have an understanding of the facts as they truly are, do not give credence to the hollow accusations based on abysmal ignorance of the facts and selfish prejudices.