The International Youth Year is timely as this is the era when the aspirations of our youth are being fulfilled, stated President Mahinda Rajapaksa today (12 August) adding that the government has laid trust in the potential of the youth.

The President made this statement during the commemoration ceremony of the completion of 25 years of the International Youth Year and the inauguration of the National Youth Year 2010 -2011 under the theme ‘Harmony through Dialogue’, at the Sugathadasa Stadium today (Aug. 12).

It is the youth who liberated this country from terrorism. Therefore, it is the youth who has the energy to develop this country, the President said.

‘Our youth are with smiles now. The situation was different one year ago. War heroes who sacrificed their lives are the ones who brought back the smiles. They scarified their eyes, hands and legs and their lives for this freedom. Thus, time has come to make this freedom more meaningful’, President further stated.

The President also invited the youth of the country to step forward to build a disciplined society in order to develop this country where freedom was won with the sacrifices of the war heroes.