Yowun Puraya

The National Youth Council has been performing a wide role in empowering the young community for over four decades and a large number of programs have been implemented during this period for the development of the youth. When we hear the name National Youth Council, the first programme that comes into mind is “Yowun Puraya” programme. There is a large number of institutions that have a close relationship with the National Youth Council and supports its endeavors and it should be noted that the contribution of all those institutions, political leadership, officers and young leaders has been highly important in obtaining the present status of the National Youth Council. “Yowun Puraya” programme that has commenced in year 1984 in the said manner has been carried out at six occasions and stopped. However, it has been recommenced in year 2016 by holding it in Sigiriya and the the eighth “Yowun Puraya” programme, which is held Yowun Puraya 2017 – Trincomalee in , is a great opportunity for the youth. This “Yowun Puraya” programme is a turning point at this moment where there is a broad discourse on the national reconciliation within the country. Selecting Trincomalee district itself is very important in this regard. Trincomalee depicts a wide profile of the entire young community of Sri Lanka. Further, it is a place where a strong foundation has been laid for the cultural enlightenment in the Sri Lankan history. Therefore, it is the direct participation of 6,000 leaders who are required to actively contribute in creating national reconciliation, to act as leaders for the prevention drug abuse among the youth, to achieve sustainable development goals, in the “Yowun Puraya” this time. It is possible to coordinate the above task throughout the entire society through the said leaders.

It is very important to make it the responsibility of the officers of the National Youth Council, representatives of Sri Lanka Federation of Youth Clubs and Members of Sri Lanka Youth Parliament to properly plan, implement, regulate and evaluate the said programme. Yowun Puraya 2017 – Trincomalee This time the “Yowun Puraya” programme is held with the determination of achieving six main objectives. While achieving the strategic objectives of the National Youth Council by achieving the objectives of each youth and each group and finally contributing to the national development process through realizing the vision of empowering the youth and lay the foundation to enable the youth to lead a proper social life. This handbook is prepared in order to make the youths who are participating in this programme and the parties who support the same with regard to the activities related to various fields contribute in achieveing the above broad objectives and other organizational activities. Introduction of the entire programme, description on the basic organizing activities, daily camp site activities, common amenities and services within the camp, evaluation of the youth activity through selection of the best and most beautiful district, general instructions for the leaders who are participating and daily programmes are the content of the handbook. Yowun Puraya 2017 – Trincomalee Page xviii I highly appreciate the dedication of all the officer of the National Youth Council, who have coordinated this eigth “Yowun Puraya” programme organized on the commitment of the Ministry of National Policies and Economic Affairs, National Youth Council, rest of the Ministries and other Departments, Institutions and officers and the leadership of Sri Lanka Federation of Youth Clubs, which is a great strength to National Youth Council and the top beneficiaries of the programme. We believe that this handbook has helped you to gain a basic understanding of “Yowun Puraya” programme.