A delegation from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Skills Development arrived in Germany on 19th April 2014 and briefed the German Youth on the World Conference on Youth (WCY) 2014 in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 06th – 10th May 2014.
On the same evening an interactive session between the German / Sri Lankan youth and the visiting delegation was arranged at the Sri Lanka Embassy premises along with the participation of Sri Lanka Cricket Club in Berlin. After hoisting the National flag, Ambassador Sarrath Kongahage invited the German youth to actively participate in this momentous conference blessed with the UN Charter. He noted with enthusiasm that the youth power were behind each uprising in any part of the world and that the youth of  Sri Lanka has experienced this thrice. He described youth force as the supportive force and not as the working force.

Achieving good governance and accountability, gender equality, inclusive youth participation at all levels, youth rights, globalization/inclusive youth led development, ending systematic inequalities, empowering marginalized youth including most at risk young people would be the foundation stones for this year’s World Youth Conference.

Ambassador Kongahage stated having achieving the said goals the thematic areas for WCY-2014 would be realizing equal access to quality education, full employment and entrepreneurship, poverty eradication and food security, promoting healthy lives and access to health, environment protection, emergency preparedness and youth centred urbanization, realizing peace, reconciliation and ending violence, ensuring inclusive recreation as well as sports and cultures.

Assistant Director of the Ministry of Youth Affairs M. H.M.S.A. Bandara, Head of the delegation detailed on the concept of WCY “Mainstreaming Youth in the Post-2014 Development Agenda” and the progress the made in their promotional campaign “Around the World in 40 Days”.

Symbolizing the commitment of the German Youth towards the success of the conference, a German youth handed over the German national flag to Ambassador Kongahage and the visiting delegation. The General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Federation of Youth Clubs, Saman Kumara, honoured the gathered youth with badges of the WCY-2014. The delegation had a great opportunity for the interaction with the German youth and educated them on WCY-2014, when they visited Berlin wall, Brandenburg Gate and the Checkpoint Charlie.

Other members of the delegation included T. Y. Kamalsiri, General Manager (Sirasa TV), I. R. M. Angello, Program Producer (MTV), and A. Thevaragah, Member of National Federation, Sri Lanka Federation of Youth Clubs.