President Ranil Wickremesinghe has met with a group of youth to discuss his policy statement and the governments prepare for the nations future on February 16.
The group of youths expressed their views on the governments policies in a newspaper article and the President had invited them over for a follow-up conversation together with the two young journalists, Anoushka Jayasuriya and Shannon Salgadoe who had actually written the article.
Throughout the discussion, they had expressed what they expect from the federal government, and went over a variety of problems with the President, the Presidents Media Division (PMD) reported.One of the significant topics gone over was the shortcomings in the education sector, with the youth group highlighting the requirement for proper psychological health education at the school level and a correct education mechanism for the addition of the in a different way abled.
They asked, Will your federal government get some genuine mental health education in Sri Lanka, in schools particularly? The President agreed that attention paid to psychological health in schools was inadequate and acknowledged that much needs to be finished with regard to those with psychological health problems and those who are differently abled.
He noted, nevertheless, that one of the primary issues dealing with the nation is the absence of skilled personnel in this field, according to the PMD.The youth group also raised the problem of taxes, including that while taxes are not an unique concept in lots of other countries, it is not so in Sri Lanka.The President discussed that the federal government budget can be taken a look at by the Parliament to ensure they are sticking to it.
He kept in mind that there are many committees to take a look at the budget plan, such as the Committee on Public Enterprises, Committee on Public Accounts, and Public Finance Committee.
He added that they are also bringing in the Parliamentary Budget Office Bill to strengthen the procedure further.They questioned, Transparency is a big concern with the brand-new taxes.
Individuals are feeling it due to the fact that all of a sudden they are forced to pay a substantial part of their salary.
The transparency exists since in a huge budget plan we have line products.
If you read it, you can never ever state what it is.
Its in any spending plan, its the parliament that guarantees the cash is spent carefully, and it takes 2 to 3 years.
So the parliament needs to exercise the powers now.
Last time, I think the Opposition didnt fill their quota of Chairman in the oversight committees.
All that went by board, even this time for selection, they hadnt come to Parliament to the selection committee.
I believe the remaining people simply got some opposition names into it.
That is where the transparency comes in and no place else.
You can ask regarding why you invest and all, the President explained.The President likewise talked about the countrys economic situation and the obstacles the federal government deals with, noting that Sri Lanka was in an irregular economic circumstance and had to restructure financial obligations to get out of it.
He added that the federal government needed to minimize some expense and discover cash in other areas, such as raising the electrical power tariff.
The President acknowledged that it is not an easy job, but somebody has to do it, it included.
Sri Lanka remained in a very abnormal economic scenario, and we had to leave it.
But to get out of it, we have to reorganize financial obligations.
To reorganize the debts we had to lower our expense or discover cash for it.
In some areas we have reduced, but for other locations, we have to find money.
Like the other day we had to raise the electrical energy tariff, but then there is a Rs.
230 billion loss.
If you do not raise it, you will not have power.
We are all spending for the previous sins.
This is how we get out of it quick and this is what we need to do.
I do not think theres any other way out.Its not a job, that anybody wants to do, but somebody has to do it.
The youth group likewise raised the problem of private responsibility and suggested that parliamentarians ought to have some degree of education.
The President concurred however noted that it will take a while for this to occur.
He discussed that numerous younger people either have a degree or service experience and it is up to the voters to choose the type of member they wish to choose, stated the PMD.
When the individual accountability is concerned, the members of Parliament, well you have a system where you can offer a preference.
If you do not desire any of them, you choose the party and you can select whom you desire.
Its a really costly treatment.
So I wish to select Committee to check out how we can have a much better system of elections without spending all the cash that we spend. .In a parliamentary election, the bulk of the money is spent by the individual prospects, not by the celebrations.
The youth likewise asked the President Why does everyone shout in parliament? Do you believe they shout to avoid responding to concerns positioned to them? In reaction, the President said that it is done to get media attention and is not appropriate.
He noted that he has actually seen similar behaviour in other countries which it is not unique to Sri Lanka.
That is bad.
Now its done to get limelights.
There are people when they argue, may scream at each other.
But, not like this, they simply keep yelling.
Now, its bad and setting a bad example to the country.
There is a rate.
When we take a look at the UK, it is not so.
There are times when people cheer but this is simply being done.
I think we need to bring some control over it, he added.Overall, the conference was a chance for the President to hear the views of the youth and talk about the governments plans for the future.
The youth group revealed their concerns and concepts, and the President listened and responded to their questions and comments, the PMD stated.