Aug 12, Colombo: Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa today marked the beginning of the International Year of Youth (IYY) at a ceremony held in the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium in Colombo.

Addressing the gathering, the President said the responsibility of building the country will be entrusted to the youth generation. A large number of Sri Lankan youth made their supreme sacrifice to safeguard the country and therefore, the time has come for all to be committed to protect that hard earned freedom of the motherland, the President said.

The United Nations last year declared the year beginning from August 12, 2010 as the International Year of Youth: Dialogue and Mutual Understanding. The Year will coincide with the 25th anniversary of the first International Youth Year in 1985 on the theme Participation, Development, and Peace.

At the event President Rajapaksa launched a new website of the International Year of Youth and issued special Stamp and First Day Cover.

The National Services Council and the Ministry of Youth Affairs have jointly organized today's ceremony.

Minister of Youth Affairs, Dullas Alahapperuma, Deputy Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Chairman of the National Youth Services Council Lalith Piyum Perera, International Youth Council representatives were among the distinguished invitees present.

(Pictures by Chandana Perera)