Over 65 young people from Gampaha District met with seven Members of Parliament to discuss policy concerns and proposals affecting their communities, marking the first phase of a nationwide youth engagement programme.

A structured dialogue between parliamentary representatives and young citizens took place in Gampaha District on Sunday, bringing together more than 65 participants with seven Members of Parliament to discuss community concerns and policy ideas. The Voice to Policy Dialogue, organised by the Parliamentary Caucus for Open Parliament Initiative in partnership with the Coalition for Inclusive Impact, was held at the Jetwing Blue Hotel in Negombo. The event aimed to create a direct channel for young people to engage with elected representatives and influence policy discussions.

The dialogue followed a two-stage process designed to ensure meaningful participation. In the first stage, youth participants identified concerns affecting their districts, explored different perspectives and collectively prioritised areas requiring policy attention before developing formal recommendations. The second stage featured direct engagement between youth representatives and parliamentarians, including presentations of priorities, structured discussions and an open forum for questions and concerns.

Young participants raised diverse issues spanning education and vocational training, employment and entrepreneurship, political participation, healthcare, infrastructure development, and emerging technologies including cryptocurrency. Specific proposals included reducing the time required for higher education completion and improving pathways for youth interested in public service and politics. The discussions reflected broad concerns about equipping young people to benefit from technological and economic opportunities while addressing public policy gaps.

The initiative represents the first of three district-level engagements planned for the initial phase, with similar dialogues scheduled for Kandy and Batticaloa. A youth rapporteur was appointed to document recommendations for submission to parliamentary committees, creating a mechanism for continued engagement beyond the dialogue itself. Organisers indicated that relevant young participants may be invited to engage with parliamentary committees, establishing a pathway through which youth perspectives can contribute to ongoing parliamentary deliberations.