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Will youth representation in local government increase?
The private member bill submitted by Mr. Premnath C. Dolawatta on the (Date) , in order to strengthen the steps with regards to the involvement of the youth in the governance of the state, has now been forwarded to the parliament.
The draft was published in the gazette on 14th of October, 2022 and policies to confirm the representation of at least twenty-five percent of youth in the first and second nomination lists for the local government elections are included in this draft.
The recommendations of the special commission set forth in 1990 to investigate youth discontentment highlighted the importance of ensuring greater opportunities for youth in democratic representation. As a result, an amendment to the provincial council act was brought forth and a policy was introduced stating that forty percent of opportunities should be given to youth in the preparation of local government nomination lists by political parties and independent groups.
However, during the previous term, with the confirmation of twenty-five percent female representation in local government bodies, the condition of mandatory youth representation was undermined. Nevertheless, Mr. Imtiaz Bakir Makar (MP), has also presented a draft on the (Date) to increase the representation of youth in all the three levels, including local government, provincial councils and parliament.
