As part of NPC’s Active Citizens for Elections and Democracy (ACED) project, funded by the European Union, a series of mentoring and training programmes were conducted for youth and their network members to strengthen youth participation in elections and democratic processes. These initiatives were particularly important in the post- 2022 aragalaya context, which highlighted a significant gap between youth aspirations and existing political representation.
Three training programmes were held in the Batticaloa, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa districts, bringing together youth representatives from NPC youth networks and other youth-led networks. A total of 97 youth participated, including university students, youth actively engaged in politics, youth council representatives and social media campaign activists.
The programmes were conducted by Dr. Crishni Silva, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Political Science at the University of Colombo, who facilitated the sessions through interactive discussions and participatory learning methods focused on youth political engagement and leadership.
Participants gained a deeper understanding of the current state of youth political participation, the challenges faced by young people in accessing political spaces and the opportunities available to strengthen youth representation. Discussions explored how youth activism can be transformed into sustained political engagement, the importance of political literacy and ways to rebuild trust between youth and political institutions.
Participants gained a deeper understanding of the current state of youth political participation, the challenges faced by young people in accessing political spaces and the opportunities available to strengthen youth representation. Discussions explored how youth activism can be transformed into sustained political engagement, the importance of political literacy and ways to rebuild trust between youth and political institutions.
Youth from Polonnaruwa District, including members of NPC youth networks, shared their active involvement in grassroots political work and highlighted the need to rebuild and strengthen the Youth Council. They emphasised the importance of forming a districtwide youth platform that includes both urban and rural youth, as current engagement is largely limited to town areas. Participants also discussed the need to expand youth political activities beyond urban centres to ensure broader representation.
A key concern raised by youth in both the Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura districts was the migration of youth to Colombo for higher education and employment. Participants explained that distance and time constraints make it difficult for young leaders to remain engaged in district level political activities, weakening sustained youth participation. They stressed the need for continuous mentoring and training programmes, especially for youth engaged through NPC youth networks, to maintain momentum and strengthen long term involvement in democratic processes.
The training sessions also covered youth leadership and political activism, challenges and opportunities in youth politics across different provinces and an overview of the Campaign Finance Act, helping participants better understand the legal and institutional frameworks governing elections.
Through these programmes, youth from NPC youth networks and other youth platforms were encouraged to reflect on their roles as change makers within their communities. By strengthening political awareness, leadership skills and collaboration among youth networks, the project continues to support inclusive democratic participation and contribute to long term democratic stability.