Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung für die Freiheit - The Liberal Youth Guilds of Sri Lanka become the proud owners of a Library and a National Secretariat

Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung für die Freiheit - The Liberal Youth Guilds of Sri Lanka become the proud owners of a Library and a National Secretariat [Druckversion]

The Liberal Youth Guilds of Sri Lanka become the proud owners of a Library and a National Secretariat

Dr. René Klaff, Regional Director FNSt South Asia at the inauguration

The Liberal Youth Guilds, which began their quest to foster cooperation among youth to promote liberal values and ideas in Sri Lanka in the year 2004, reached a remarkable milestone this year by establishing a fully equipped National Secretariat in Matara, Southern Province of Sri Lanka. They were also fortunate to add a Library to enhance the capabilities of the LYG members.

Dr. Buddhika Pathirana, National President of the Liberal Youth Guilds with Dr. René Klaff, Regional Director FNSt South Asia at the inauguration of library

The establishment of the National Secretariat and the Tsunami Memorial Library became a memorable event for the Institute for Democracy & Leadership (IDL) and the Liberal Youth Guilds with Dr. René Klaff, Regional Director South Asia of the Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung für die Freiheit traveling over to Sri Lanka, inaugurate the events as the Chief Guest on 21st October 2007.

Dr. Buddhika Pathirana, National President of the Liberal Youth Guilds in Sri Lanka, was the chief architect of these two worthy projects. He provided space for the National Secretariat and the Library, in the large complex housing a vocational training institute, (built with assistance, also from three other German Sources). IDL and the LYGs threw their weight and might behind the two projects to make it a reality. The end result was a LYG National Secretariat that could boast of fully equipped audio-visual department, lecture halls, dining and recreation facilities, board room, auditorium and a library that will especially supplement the readings of liberal principles.

The inauguration was a high profile affair, with national media coverage. A widely popular TV station aired the inaugural event in their main news section on 22nd October 2007.

Participants of LYG Seminar

The LYGs and the IDL took the opportunity to get the intellectual input from Dr. René Klaff to their workshop titled "Youth & Liberalism" on the 20th of October 2007. The participants, all office bearers and members representing different LYGs in 07 districts of Sri Lanka, also had the chance to get involved in a lively interactive question and answer session with Dr. René Klaff.

Today, the Liberal Youth Guilds of Sri Lanka has become a force worthy taking note of. They can boast of young and dynamic personalities, who have made a mark in the political arena, from local to national levels, and they have credibly offered an attractive alternative to the extremist rhetoric of different sorts and backgrounds popular in Sri Lanka these days.