Nanu Oya Correspondent
Most of the veteran politicians and trade unionists in the upcountry never allowed the youth to work on their own. They were made prisoners in political parties. They did not want to train them, as good politicians. Their aim was to preserve power, prestige and popularity. Forty per cent of the population are youth. Their needs and lives were overlooked by every successive government, which was installed to power, since independence.

These observations were made by V. Puthrasigamoney former UNP M.P. for Nuwara Eliya district and the President of the Upcountry Youth Front.

He was addressing the annual general meeting held at Nanu-Oya on July 8. He said no genuine and honest efforts were made to solve their problems, which kept on mounting day by day, their rights in society were stolen by the elders, which is fifteen percent of the population. The youth were not recognised in society. Youth were exploited and no opening was given them to enter the political mainstream. This is the main reason of all youth uprisings. The youth uprising in 1971 and 1988 were the result of suppression and oppression. Now, the government should make arrangements to conduct a political academy for the youth. No favouritism should be shown, by means of this new political culture. People with education, family background and moral respect are refraining from getting into politics.

He said, upcountry trade unionists and politicians use the youth in the upcountry, as a ladder to enter the parliament.