The UNP said today that 70 per cent of the youth in Sri Lanka were anxious to leave Sri Lanka because they were frustrated with the UPFA government.    

 “Seven out of ten of youngsters want to leave the country seeking a better future in countries like Australia, Italy and Japan because the government has failed to provide a ‘Suba Anagathayak’ as promised,” UNP MP Ruwan Wijewardene told a news conference today.

He said the government should take the responsibility for losing the future generation in Sri Lanka.

He revealed that the students at Sri Jayewardenepura, Colombo and Uva Wellassa Universities are facing difficulties due to the lack of proper governance.

“The Vice Chancellor had suspended some students at Sri Jayewardenepura over false allegations. About 500 students in Colombo University are not having hostel facilities and there is a shortage of lecturers at the UvaWellassa University,” he said.

He asked the Higher Education Minister to look into these issues.

UNP MP Harin Fernando said the degree holders at divisional secretariats were not appointed to positions that are in keeping with their qualifications.

“I saw some degree holders in the Badulla Divisional Secretariat roaming around the premises, and sitting under trees. They clearly did not earn a degree to distribute seeds for Rs.10,000,” he said.    

Mr. Fernando said the UNP Youth Front was hoping to establish a Youth Center to help the youth.

“We will upgrade our Youth Front office at UNP headquarters and open a centre to help the youngsters of the country because the Government is not ready to listen to their concerns. The center will be open 24 hours of the day and youngsters can contact us through E-mail, Mail and Phone,” he said.

The UNP said some 10,000 youth had attended its May Day rally in Badulla and said the party would conduct a youth uprising against the government.

He recalled the Libyan Government was also toppled by the youth in that country. (YP & LSP)