A large number of young people participated in the first of a series of youth rallies organized by NPP YOUTH, the youth organization of the National People’s Power, yesterday (17) at Gangabada Park in Matara under the theme “YOUTH Api SET ekana FIT eke malimawata” (We, the youth, are all set for NPP).
The rally was addressed by the NPP leader, Anura Dissanayake; the national executive member of the NPP, Sunil Handunnetti; the National Organizer of NPP Youth Eranga Gunasekara, the National Committee Member of NPP Chaturanga Abeysinghe, renowned actor Jagath Manuwarna, the Education Secretary of the Socialist Youth Union Mahesh Ambepitiya, and youth leaders Malki Amasha and Sebastian Lista.
Speaking at the rally, NPP Leader Anura Dissanayake said, “The youth movement of the National People’s Power is not only the strongest youth movement in this country but also the youth movement that is ready to change this country. There is no doubt that the task begun from Matara to rally the young generation for the coming new political transformation will become the most significant youth awakening in Sri Lanka.
The youth generation thought that politics was not their job. They thought that the job belonged to parents and several families. The young generation was dreaming and planning how to make their lives successful. Today, the dreams they created are being destroyed in front of their eyes. There are several youth groups in our society. There is a group with a certain amount of assets, such as higher education, competence in languages, and knowledge, that can cope with international situations. They have made Australia, Canada, England, and New Zealand, considered developed countries in the world, the destination of their journey to secure their lives. There is another group where the burden of parents has fallen on them and whose future dreams and hopes have collapsed. They are trying to escape to Israel, Korea, Middle East to fulfil their expectations. Another group had to stop their school education in the middle and engage in some kind of work to make ends meet. They have no life, no purpose, no goal. A large number of people are joining that group today. That group has become Deshbandhu’s target. They are insecure, wandering youth with no value for life. Jagath Manuvarna’s movie “Kodigaha Yata” showed the life of that young generation. This country should be transformed into a very safe country. The young generation of this country should be made into a young generation full of expectations for their future. The tragedy unfolding in front of our eyes today compels us to take the lead in changing this. Where do we change this? This can be changed only by changing the current political path in a new direction. The first struggle to be carried out is to liberate this country from this tragedy that has been inherited by the country, the people and you by your parents’ politics. Our country needs such a political transformation. To whom did the politics of this country belong? In Matara, from Wijesekera to his son, Sirisena, to his son Manoj Sirisena, to Mahinda Rajapaksa’s cousins. This politics has been spinning in the hands of a few families. Despite having the ability and desire, the doors of politics have been closed to our young generation.
None of these people came here with politics engraved on their foreheads. They did not take political responsibilities with Mahabamba tattooed on their foreheads. Why do we enter this politics? There is an unjust and unfair society before us. The lives of our young generations are being destroyed. We all chose this politics to intervene, lead and join in this social transformation. There is a purpose to change this. There is a courageous need for that. What kind of politics does this country want? The young men and women were queued up and told, “Tall gets ‘security’ and the short ‘labour’.Does this country need a politics that divides jobs In such a way? That is the politics that the young generation has been forced to inherit. How many forms did you fill out applications to get a job at Hambantota Port during the elections? How many applications did you fill out to get a job from the likes of Nipuna Ranawakas? They sit on top and give us labour jobs. Whether they have brains or not, they have the presidency and ministership engraved on their foreheads. To change this, let us achieve a new political transformation. I entered politics as a schoolboy. The entire youth of many people, including myself, worked hard for this new transformation and fought despite various defeats even when death was staring at us; we did not give up but chose this politics for a political transformation.
We have faced various difficulties and suffered insults, but today we are on the brink of victory. We can win this. By the end of October this year, a new government and a new administration will be formed. This government is entrusted with a major task. This society should undergo a complete transformation. It can be done only with the active involvement of the people. A government should be formed, and necessary work should be done to meet the expectations. In the ‘X’ generation, we become someone who lives with a secure job, a bank account with savings, an organized social corporation, something within the existing society.
Generation Z expects transparency. You are going for an interview for a government job. You are not selected, someone else gets selected. Our generation accepts that as it is. However, those of the ‘Z’ generation want to know how it happened. You of the ‘Z’ generation went to ‘Aragalaya’ and asked, “How did you get medicine for the hospital?” That transparency is necessary. How were these people chosen for this job? “How did you choose the contractor? How many marks did you get for the paper you wrote? Generation Z expects transparency. It is characteristic of your generation. We are creating a government of the National People’s Power that protects the transparency that today’s youth is looking for. This ‘Z’ generation expects creativity. It is not a generation confined to one place. You want to express your creativity quickly.
Our generation is following the path that was made for us. This generation travels in many byways. There are many people who have come up economically and socially. It came from other big roads. Nevertheless, is our society a society that can absorb your creativity? Our leaders are those who work in the mentality of the pre-Christian era, in the old social concepts. They believe in superstition. Basil Rajapakse goes to a temple to get acquitted of court cases. A talisman has been tied for each case. These failed tribal leaders have locked down your creativity. A government of the National People’s Power will build the socio-economic structures necessary to advance the creativity of these young people.
Independence is a characteristic of the ‘Z’ generation. When we were young, we had to follow the path created by teachers and parents in a framework. We had to live as dutiful citizens. The new generation does not like traditional jobs. They are no longer willing to do traditional jobs. They do not like to be subject to a master’s. You demand independence. The economic model of the NPP is designed to target small and medium-scale entrepreneurs. They will become the engine of our economy. Gaining a share of the world’s IT market is a part of our economic vision. We have made the necessary vision to turn tourism from the hotel industry into a tourism business. The right to engage in independent employment with autonomy will be confirmed. You are a fast-growing generation. Although you are growing fast, the country’s economy is limping behind you.
What do they say? They say there are no suitable jobs for you. The problem is that they have failed to build an economy that matches your knowledge and ability. The existing economy stagnates. You become useless to yourself and the country. If socio-economic transformations do not catch up with your rapid growth, then this society will become unsuitable for you. However, we will create an economy that keeps pace with your growth.
Another unique feature of this generation is that it is able to adapt very quickly. A generation that can adapt quickly needs a society that can transform quickly. If the society does not transform rapidly, if the society does not bring the necessary transformation according to your ability, your competence, your potential, you will become the ‘X’ generation.
The flexibility – your generation
has. But if the economy and the leader are like Guhnash (a stone devouring monster, those governments are useless. And you care about mental health more than other generations. You need enjoyment, happiness, love, satisfaction. The ‘Alpa’ generation born between 2010 – 2024 will be even more different. Those born from 2024 to 2039, the ‘Beta’ generation, will be even more different. Today, we are doing politics with the children of ‘Z’ generation.
The future belongs to the alpha generation. However, if the leaders become like tribal leaders and fail to see modernity, the children of the modern generation cannot think of a future. The new youth wants transparency. You need flexibility, you need rapid social transformation to match your rapid growth. You need a community to unleash your creativity. The National People’s Power expects to bring forward this new society. We of Generation ‘X’, would like to hand over the steering wheel to Generation ‘Z’ so we can sit at home and see how the members of Generation ‘Z’ rule this country. However, how could we hand over the baton to the ‘Z’ generation? For, those guys will not just give up that baton.
Therefore, seeing How we can take this baton from the old tribal generation and transfer it to the ‘Z’ generation and move this country forward rapidly is a pleasant spectacle. Is there any point in becoming politicians who do not fit that era, do not match that era, and cannot clash with that era? The responsibility of the ‘X’ generation is to hand over this political leadership to the ‘Z’ generation. First, let us take power from the tribal generation into our own hands. Within a very short period of time, we will hand over the reins of power in this country to the ‘Z’ generation. Let us all rally to achieve this task.”
