EDEX Expo 2009 opening ceremony Pic by Berty Mendis |
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I consider the presence of many stakeholders of society, to grace this occasion as a gesture of honouring the Sri Lankan youth. Thank you for your presence.
In the midst of a widespread global crisis in many frontiers, our country is on the edge of a defining moment in history. This is an opportunity to all Sri Lankans to renew their hopes and aspirations for a peaceful co-existence, devoid of any divides or segregations.
Looking into the future, we must take care of our young from the North, East, South and West, now and today, for the mere reason that they are the future of this land. Their skill, ability, will and determination will define their own destiny as well as the destiny of our motherland.
I believe there is a prize for all of us in a socially and economically stable 21st Century Sri Lanka and a dignified youth power that is competent, confident and competitive. To achieve this objective we have to elevate their hopes and aspirations and create a world of possibilities in their education and skills development.
In reality, although our youth have so much potential, due to a series of inequalities in the education system and a discouraging environment faced in post secondary education in particular, their prospects for progress are largely suppressed. There is a widening mismatch between skills taught and skills demanded by the industry.
If we continuously fail to give our young students right education, right skills and attitudes required, to be able to deliver new value to our motherland, we will do a lot more harm than just hurt our economy. Most likely final outcome may be persistent poverty, crime and violence, all of which have drained our nation, for decades.
Six years ago, the Royal College Union stepped in to bridge the void in post secondary arena, by creating EDEX Expo as a forum to capture and echo the voices and sentiments of aspiring youth and allow them to realize their full potential.
Growing from strength to strength, EDEX Expo 2009 will offer our youth numerous world class choices, options and opportunities that can be found in Sri Lanka and overseas in a single platform for their futuristic self development.
Living in planet in peril where the survival of entire mankind is at stake, we cannot be blind to sustainable living any more. This year, we have taken yet another pioneering and ambitious step to create a 'green' conscious set of youth.
We will educate, activate and engage our youth on disciplined creation and consumption of natural resources without depleting them as we believe that stakes are high for the society and economy in Going Green.
Globally it is estimated that industries such as renewable energy, waste management and water treatment will themselves be worth US $700 billion by 2010 - equal to the value of the global aerospace industry.
So building a low carbon economy offers us the chance to create thousands of new Green business opportunities and hundreds of thousands of new Green jobs.
Ladies and Gentlemen, A low carbon society will not emerge from 'business as usual'. It will require new thinking and new technologies, new education and skills, new forms of economic activity and social organization, new forms of consumer behaviour and lifestyles, and of course the creativity and innovation.
We have unveiled a very powerful 'THINK GREEN' Logo, which will serve as a constant reminder of this mission. We have also arranged a 'Green Pavilion' on show, where you should not miss paying a visit.
Honorable ministers and policy makers present, I wish to make a timely proposal to take the THINK GREEN initiative forward. Let me propose to consider setting up a 'National Green Science Centre'; mainly to educate and engage our youth and our students in Green skills. If there is support from the state and other stakeholders, we are willing to play a lead role in this Endeavour.
No-one should under-estimate the long term scale of the challenge this represents, but if we do it successfully the benefits will be immense.
Let us prepare and engage our youth to get the best out of the emerging Green Revolution, before it's too late.
Yes, we can 'Think Green' - 'Think Green' we must!
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