Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday accused the government of turning Youth Clubs into political tools by enabling the ruling party member to take over their control.
Making a special statement in Parliament under Standing Order 27/2, Premadasa charged that political interference by national and regional leaders affiliated to the ruling NPP had undermined the independence of Youth Clubs across the country.
He cited Circular No. 2/11/25/1 issued by the National Youth Services Council (NYSC), which announced the dissolution of all Youth Clubs formed prior to 23 May 2025 and the appointment of new office bearers. The appointments, Premadasa alleged, were driven by the political objectives of the ruling party.
“These clubs were once independent, apolitical spaces for young people. Now, they’ve been hijacked by the NPP to serve partisan ends,” Premadasa said, adding that political appointees handpicked by the NPP had been installed in leadership positions.
He warned that such actions set a dangerous precedent by eroding public trust in youth institutions and discouraging genuine civic engagement among the country’s youth. “This is nothing less than an attempt to manufacture grassroots support for the ruling party by manipulating democratic youth structures,” he said.
Premadasa urged the government to respect the independence of the Youth Clubs and to immediately reverse what he described as a politically motivated takeover.
by Saman Indrajith
from The Island https://ift.tt/8zkNdGC
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