Bridging Generations: Conversations Between Today’s Leaders and Tomorrow’s Visionaries
Commitment towards forward-thinking and participatory democracy, The Social Architects (TSA) successfully concluded the program, “Bridging Generations: Conversations Between Today’s Leaders and Tomorrow’s Visionaries,” from July 12th to 14th, 2024, in Colombo. This innovative initiative brought together Sri Lanka’s emerging young leaders and present political figures and other forward-thinking visioneries, showcasing the power of youth engagement in shaping the future.
Day 1: Inside the Parliament
The journey began on July 12th, 2024, with an informative visit to the Parliament of Sri Lanka, witnessing the parliamentary proceeding in person. CSPS chairpersons and secretaries were granted the opportunity to meet with the Honorable Speaker, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana, alongside the Secretary-General, Ms. Kushani Anusha Rohanadeera, and the Director of Legislative Services of Parliament, M. Jayalath Perera.
This engaging session offered the young leaders a firsthand look at parliamentary proceedings, with the Secretary-General elaborating on parliamentary procedures and committee functions. It was a significant milestone, reinforcing the essence of participatory democracy and civic engagement for the CSPS members.
Day 2: Insights from a Leading Scholar
On the second day, the focus shifted to education and empowerment with an inspiring interactive dialogue led by Prof. Maithree Wickramasingha, a distinguished Professor of English and the founding Director of the Centre for Gender Studies at the University of Kelaniya. Prof. Wickramasingha provided invaluable insights on gender dynamics and responded to questions from the youth about how sexual and gender-based discrimination limits their progress at all levels. She also praised the gender balance within the CSPS and acknowledged the depth of understanding of identity dynamics among some of its members.
Her session was lively, with multiple diverse questions from the CSPS members, making it an interaction that all the members reminisced about in the following days.
A Dialogue with a Former President
Later, the CSPS members had the opportunity to engage with the Honorable former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The discussion centred around governance, development, and resource allocation, with the former President addressing the CSPS members’ concerns and highlighting the current economic challenges affecting funding. This dialogue provided the young leaders with a deeper understanding of the complexities of governance
Exploring Local Governance
On the same day, a tour of the Colombo Municipal Council (the largest Council in Sri Lanka) offered practical insights into local governance. Commissioner Ms. Badrani Jayawardana and the Secretary Sanjaya Niroshana provided an enlightening overview of municipal operations, helping the children grasp the intricacies of local governance and its impact on their communities.
Day 3: Meeting with Anura Kumara Dissanayake
On July 14th, the program concluded with a meeting with Anura Kumara Dissanayake, whose engagement underscored the significance of youth involvement in governance. The CSPS members posed thoughtful questions about land allocation vs. housing schemes in Malayaham (Hill County), the prevalence of handout culture, and the village schools and hospitals’ facilities, gaining valuable perspectives on these policy issues.
Facing Unforeseen Challenges
Unfortunately, the proposed meeting with the opposition leader didn’t materialize due to the Opposition Leader and his team’s lack of commitment. Promises were made but not honoured, presenting an unexpected challenge and causing disappointment among the youth, their parents and especially The Social Architects.
Looking Ahead
Building on the success of the CSPS initiative, The Social Architects (TSA) is poised to expand the program to additional villages, involving more children in participatory democracy and strengthening partnerships with local and national leaders. Advanced training programs are also planned to develop the skills and understanding of CSPS members further. TSA remains committed to creating more opportunities for young leaders to engage with political leaders, thinkers, and visionaries to gain insights into participatory governance and civic engagement.
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