• Claim interference by regional politicians of the ruling party in establishing clubs
• NPP MP who visited Youth Club election says they are not attempting to politicise  

The Collective to Protect Youth Clubs, a Civil Society Organisation (CSO) comprised of former youth club members, is to take legal action challenging the recently held Youth Clubs elections, which are allegedly politicised due to interference by national- and regional-level politicians affiliated with the ruling National People’s Power (NPP).

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (3), a member of the Collective, Indunil Bandara, said that they are currently assisted by several lawyers to initiate legal action immediately against the heavily politicised Youth Clubs elections held recently. He stated that there has been no past trend of national- or regional-level politicians being involved in Youth Clubs elections conducted by the National Youth Services Council (NYSC).

He further noted that long-standing regulations and traditions within the NYSC have been unprecedentedly altered by the current administration of the NYSC and the ruling political authorities. “I have been involved in NYSC Youth Clubs in the Anuradhapura District for years. There has been a tradition of electing senior members of the Youth Clubs system to positions following elections. But this time, all the seniors have been overlooked to elect certain politically-backed individuals. Unfortunately, these individuals have no experience in these clubs. In most places, politically-affiliated persons have been elected. There is no issue in electing fresh members, but that must happen independently,” he said.

Over the last few weeks, many parties including Youth Clubs members and political groups have accused the Government of interfering in the process of electing Youth Clubs members across the country. Last week, Minister Samantha Vidyarathne and a few other members of the ruling NPP were accused of attending elections.

However, NPP Parliamentarian Dinesh Hemantha, addressing the Matale NYSC Conference, said that the Government is not attempting to politicise the Youth Clubs, but is instead working to nurture and build up youth to take over the country’s future.

Meanwhile, the Opposition and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Leader Sajith Premadasa said last week that the Government was breaking with the tradition of maintaining a non-partisan approach in forming and leading Youth Clubs, by allowing NPP political appointees to select leaders and officials for the clubs.

The Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs, Eranga Gunasekara, was not available for comment.