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.