The President was addressing the National Youth Convention of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) held at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium, Colombo, yesterday (2nd April).
Over 12,000 youth from all corners of the country participated at the National Youth Convention, which was organized by the Party’s Youth Front, after a lapse of 13 years under the theme of “Strength for the solution”. It is significant that this time the Youth participated with solutions and proposals for their issues.
Addressing the gathering, the President further said that this Convention with the strength of the youth symbolizes that SLFP has come forward again for an honest, clean political movement.
He said that he accepted the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Chairmanship not to crown any of his family members, but to lay the foundation in ushering a prosperous future for the country.
The President questioned as to why he is being obstructed by certain persons to taking the party forward, after he was offered the SLFP Chairmanship.
He further added that today SLFP is open for people at all levels. The President invited youth to come forward by providing their leadership and contribution at the future Local Government election. He added that he believes the Local Government elections can be held this year.
The young members appreciated the President for preparing them to win the future.
During the National Youth Convention the report of the SLFP Youth Front and the first copies of the ‘’Visaduma’’ book and ‘’Nidahas’’ newspaper were presented to the President.
The President also launched the website of the SLFP Youth Front.
The Souvenir issued to mark the National Youth Convention of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party was also presented to the President during the event.
General secretary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Minister Duminda Dissanayake, UPFA General Secretary, Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, Senior Ministers and MPs of the Party including Senior Vice President of Sri Lanka Freedom Party and the former Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne, Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Youth Front Chairman, former Deputy Minister Shantha Bandara, and Secretary Eric Weerawardena also participated