Making a historic pledge at the launch of the youth movement of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, former Opposition Leader and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa said a quota of over 25% of party nominations would be allocated to youth candidates at the next Provincial Council election. The SJB’s official youth movement ‘Samagi Tharuna Balawegaya’ was launched on June 15 (Monday) at the party head office in Kotte under the auspices of party leader Sajith Premadasa and other senior officials of the party. Addressing the launch, Premadasa said the allocation of over 25% quota for youth candidates at future elections would be the most radical step in terms of strengthening youth representation in Sri Lankan politics thus far. “Many parties have talked about the importance of promoting youth participation in politics. I am glad to say that the Samagi Jana Balawegaya has taken a proactive and meaningful step in implementing it on the ground. the SJB will not only ensure 25% + nominations to young people but also will ensure exclusivity in the process by providing nominations only to the active members of its youth movement in upcoming elections,” the former Opposition Leader said. “Our youth movement is founded upon the core principles of humanism, progressiveness and positive patriotism and will always advocate the idea of shared prosperity. The SJB is a fervent believer of inclusive development and setting up democratic framework at all levels of governance,” he added. Premadasa said the Samagi Tharuna Balawegaya is geared to mobilize one million youth across the country around the party's political cause. “The organization will have a strong vibrant network and a structure that will allow capable leaders at the grassroots level to rise to the apex decision-making bodies,” he said. To mark the launch of the youth movement, Premadasa signed a declaration to strengthen the country’s youth and a policy framework that was formulated by the youth movement, which will be incorporated into the election manifesto of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya. The policy framework seeks to address a wide range of socio-economic issues that have hampered the progress of Sri Lanka’s youth for generations. Addressing the gathering, former MP and Chairman of the Samagi Tharuna Balawegaya Mayantha Dissanayake thanked the party leader and other senior officials of the party for entrusting him with the responsibility of mentoring the youth movement which will create the next generation of leaders of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya. Dissanayake said the initiative would play an active role in the party’s campaign for the upcoming Parliamentary election and all candidates of the party would engage with this initiative.