“Baton Will Be Yours”: AKD Pledges Power to Youth

COLOMBO (News 1st); President Anura Kumara Dissanayake delivered a powerful address at the National Youth Summit, calling for a historic shift in Sri Lanka’s political culture and reaffirming his commitment to empowering the country’s youth.

The President acknowledged that youth movements in Sri Lanka had long been manipulated to serve the interests of entrenched political families. “For decades, these platforms were not built on merit or aspiration, but on the ambitions of the sons, daughters, and relatives of the old political elite,” he said.

He emphasized that under the current administration, this era is coming to an end. “We are turning a page. The youth movement will no longer be a branch of political convenience. It will become a platform to nurture the future leaders of this nation.”

President Dissanayake also addressed the broader challenge of transferring real power to young people. “We often tell the youth that the future is in their hands. But the real challenge is to ensure that this future truly becomes theirs — and that is exactly what we are working toward.”

He shared a message of transition and trust: “The Cabinet, myself included, and the Parliament are fully aware that our time in these positions is temporary. One day, the baton will be passed — and it will be passed to you, the youth.”