It's time for the youth to lead: MP Rasamanickam

COLOMBO (News 1st); TNA MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam appealed to the people of Sri Lanka to allow for more youth participation within politics, taking into example the recent victories experienced by the Sri Lankan cricket team, which is mostly comprised of youth, and emphasized that it is the youth that will be able to lead Sri Lanka on a newer path into the future.

Speaking at the Parliament on Wednesday (7), the MP said that the Batticaloa District, which he represents, currently grapples with malnutrition levels of 10%, especially among children below the age of 10. Moreover, the MP said that among the pregnant mothers in the same District, the malnutrition level which stood at 10% last year has climbed to 17% this year. 

Emphasizing that the growth of children mainly takes place in their fetal stage and when they are below 10 years of age, the MP said that the amount given to schoolchildren to purchase their midday meals is only Rs. 60/-, when the price of essential commodities such as eggs have increased to Rs. 50/-. 

"Even that Rs. 60/-, the schoolchildren cannot obtain as urban councils do not have a proper procedure," he mentioned.

However, MP Rasamanickam said, the very people who are responsible for malnutrition to befall the people of Sri Lanka have once again started another political drama during the last week.

Referring the newest coalition set up by Independent MPs; Supreme Lanka Coalition which includes Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thero, MP Wimal Weerawansa, MP Udaya Gammanpila, MP Prof. Mr. Tissa Witharana, MP Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Dr. G. Weerasinghe and MP Gevidu Kumaratunga, the TNA MP said that the frontrunners of the previous administration which was responsible for the economic crisis and bringing malnutrition upon the people of Sri Lanka, have initiated this new coalition.

"What did the leader of this so-called coalition say? He said that another Mahathir Mohamad and another Lee Kuan Yew have come to rebuild the country." the TNA MP said.

He further stated that the very same coalition consists of members who carried swords in the name of the organization "Sinhale" and the Secretary of the coalition is the same man who made the country's enegy sector unstable, while the Under-Secretary is an MP who promoted notions of 'sterility pills' and caused the calamity in relation to Dr. Shafi, while another Under-Secretary is an MP who claimed that Sri Lanka would be destroyed if it went to the IMF.

Therefore, MP Rasamanickam emphasized, it becomes absolutely important to elect a group of young people to takeover politics, and not the same liars as before.