Sources from USA reveal that the President has decided to appoint MP Namal Rajapaksa as the Minister of Youth Affairs and Skills Development.

The decision is said to have been taken considering the possible challenge that may arise with the sudden emergence of three young leaders in Kurunegala, Matale and Kandy districts, all who have prominent family roots within the SLFP, sources say.

These young leaders all rose to prominence after winning the highest number of preferential votes at the recently held PC polls.

Sources also say that the President - who is in New York these days attending the 68th session of the UN General Assembly, has been astonished with the massive figure of preferential votes for Dayasiri Jayasekara.

Meanwhile, the 'Lanka News Web' reports that the President has decided to appoint his son as Minister of Youth Affairs and Skills Development in order to prepare him to take the leadership at the Commonwealth Youth Summit which will be held in parallel to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) as well as at the UN Conference on Youth which will be held in September next year.

Although the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Skills Development is currently under President's relation - Minister Dullas Alahapperuma, it is MP Namal Rajapaksa who currently acts as the ministry's authoritative figure.

In order to develop the international image of MP Namal Rajapaksa, steps have been taken to organize a walk from Mankulam to Hambantota from Nov. 01 - 08 which is organised by international cricket idol Sir Ian Botham, upon MP Namal's invitation.

Stars in the world cricket arena including Brian Lara, Kapil Dev and Sourav Ganguly will be taking part in the event.