• Warns against political encroachment of space for youth

Former President and United National Party Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe claims that prevailing unrest with regard to youth clubs will lead to the decline of the youth club movement in Sri Lanka, and that the alleged politicisation under the incumbent Government is unacceptable.

Wickremesinghe, who claimed to be the founder of the youth club movement, made these remarks in a special statement issued yesterday (10). He said that prevailing tensions must be addressed before they worsen further.

“If this situation continues, the youth club movement will decline. Protesters claim that amendments have been put forward to politicise youth clubs. Hold talks with protesting former officials as well as appointed representatives of district-level organisations and provide a solution that is acceptable to everyone,” Wickremesinghe stated, adding that more protests were likely to be held.

Noting that youth clubs should not be used for political purposes, the former President added that doing so would turn the issues surrounding youth clubs into a political issue. He cautioned that such a situation would also entail political parties’ interventions, which he said would cause the collapse of the youth club movement.

“What is necessary is protecting these youth clubs,” Wickremesinghe stated, adding that youth clubs had originally been established to support and improve hobbies, artistic work, and other collective activities among the youth, and that they should not be politicised.