WCY 2014 to be held in SL a victory for Asia

Getting the opportunity to hold the World Conference on Youth 2014 (WCY 2014) in Colombo was a victory not only for Sri Lanka but for the whole of Asia, Youth Affairs and Skills Development Minister Dulles Alahapperuma said.

Addressing the local organisers of the WCY 2014 at the Youth Affairs and Skills Development Ministry auditorium, Minister Alahapperuma said over 1,500 youth from 196 countries and more that 30 youth affairs ministers and nearly 12 heads of state were expected at the event scheduled to be held from May 6th to 10th which is also the largest international conference ever held in Sri Lanka.

Minister Alahapperuma said a youth conference of international level was held for the first time in 1936. Since then this was the first time, a developing country has been given this opportunity.

“Half of the world population comprises youth, therefore policy planners and politicians could not ignore the needs of youth which had invariably become an international issue.

This is not just another youth gettogether or a workshop and more than 150 countries have confirmed there participation by now. The document regarding the future of youth has been titled the ‘Colombo Declaration,’ and it will be the first time that youth leaders and Youth Affairs Ministers would be signing a significant document together.

Sri Lanka was the only country which did not have a national policy for youth. The main thrust of our

Over 1,500 youth from 196 countries and more that 30 youth affairs ministers and nearly 12 heads of state are expected at the event scheduled to be held from May 6th to 10th which is also the largest international conference ever held in SL

youth policy has been the development of skills to help youth not involved in the main stream of education,” Minister Alahapperuma emphasised.

The youth affairs and skills development ministry has undertaken the responsibility of securing a future for Sri Lanka’s youth and it is highly imperative to map out the future of our youth which would he the main objective of the country, he said.

Meanwhile the first delegation of youth participating in the WCY 2014, arrived from the Central European country of Slovenia last afternoon and is expected to interact with Sri Lankan youths in the next few days, a Youth Affairs and Skills Development Ministry spokesman said.