We place enormous faith in youth and their potential, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa speaking at the inauguration of Ruwanpura National College of ICT Education.

"We provided employment opportunities to thousands of graduates at a time when millions of employees were sacked by the developed countries in the world," the President said.

He further said today the obligation of youth in this country is to act as responsible citizens towards the development of the motherland without being biased to any element.

The President stressed that as a Government they did not look at youth with suspicion.

President Rajapaksa said the Government has allocated massive funds for education and health even while the humanitarian mission was going on. Some elements in the past tried to reduce the strength of the public service from 0.8 million to 0.6 million in compliance with the World Bank and IMF directives, he said.

The Government was able to provide unprecedented job opportunities to the youths, particularly to the graduates.

President Rajapaksa stated that the era in which Information Technology and English was exclusive to privilege persons has changed today.

Through the Nenasala Programme the Government has taken information technology to the rural areas.