The Parliamentary Caucus for Open Parliament Initiative has concluded the first phase of its Voice to Policy Dialogue series in Kandy, giving young people a rare opportunity to present their concerns directly to Members of Parliament.
Around 40 youth participants joined eight MPs for the dialogue, where issues ranging from education and employment to women’s rights, substance abuse, entrepreneurship, and the development of Kandy as an economic hub were discussed.
Co‑Chair of the Caucus, MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam stressed that Parliament must create more opportunities for young people to engage in policymaking beyond election cycles. “Their concerns should not only be heard during elections, but also form part of the discussions that shape government policy,” he said.
At the Kandy dialogue, participants highlighted the gap between education and employment, stressing the need for stronger vocational training, closer links between education and the private sector, and greater access to quality jobs.
Young women called for more opportunities to take part in political decision‑making, while the discussion on substance abuse pointed to unemployment and the lack of accessible support services as root causes.
Ideas were also shared on developing Kandy as an economic centre, with tourism, entrepreneurship, infrastructure, and digital connectivity identified as key drivers.
The Kandy session follows earlier dialogues in Gampaha and Batticaloa, with discussions showing that while challenges vary by region, concerns around education, employment, entrepreneurship, transport, and social wellbeing are widely shared.
MP Shanakiyan thanked the youth participants, MPs, and the Assistant Secretary General of Parliament for their involvement, and extended special appreciation to the Coalition for Inclusive Impact (CII) for partnering with the Caucus to create a platform for meaningful engagement.
Issuing a statement, he noted that the first phase of the initiative demonstrates a strong appetite among young people to engage in policymaking. “Our responsibility now is to ensure that the ideas raised through these dialogues are taken forward through the appropriate parliamentary processes,” the MP said. (Newswire)