MEP – Youth

Leaders of FALYL with their popularity among mases were able to represented the parliament of Sri Lanka and was battling out to win the rights that were taken off from the people by the imperialists which still had control over many critical economic and social power centers in the country. Philip Gunawardena was a silent hero in tirelessly working to pass the free education bill in the parliament which only won by a single vote majority, the bill was opposed by the elite class in the country fearing their position will be lost when the majority of the Sri Lankans receive freedom of education. The free education act is considered one of the most important bills passed in the history of parliament of Sri Lanka which still enables millions of Sri Lankans to earn their righteous place in the society through access to education.

The 1956 election marked a landmark democratic revolution in Sri Lanka, Philip Gunawardena orchestrated an alliance with all anti-imperialist forces brining the five forces of Priest, Medics, Educationists, Farmers and Workers together by forming the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna ( MEP) alliance. Mahajan Eksath Peramuna won the election with an overwhelming majority making S.W.R.D. Bandaranayake as the prime minister and Philip Gunawardena was sworn in as the minister of agriculture and food. FALYL comrades played a pivotal role in this democratic revolution travelling from village to village to gain the support of the people and educate them of the victories that could be obtained under a people’s led government.

Through the peoples led government formed in 1956 Philip Gunawardena brought in reforms which paved the way for the rural farmers to reap the benefits of true freedom in an independent Sri Lanka ( Then Ceylon).

The “Paddy Land Act of 1958” was instrumental in giving the due land rights from the land lords to the farmers, this was the first act of its kind in South or South East Asia.

The formation of multipurpose corporative systems provided the access to markets to farmers and there by freeing them from the tight grip of large-scale traders.

The co-operative bank systems and subsequently formation of the People’s Bank ( in 1961) was the brainchild of Hon Philip Gunawardena which gave financial freedom for the rural farmers.

These endeavors were critically and brutally opposed by the elite class in the country, the FALYL members worked tirelessly with the leader Hon. Philip Gunawardena to obtain the support of the rural masses and defeat the threat of the supporters of the imperialists.

From 1973- 1983 MEP did not have a representation in the parliament but the party and the youth wing was one of the most active groups outside the parliament specifically safeguarding the youth from provocative youth uprisings took place during this period. During this period a separatist movement was spreading terror and challenging the unitary status of the country. MEP youth wing actively campaigned around the country calling for ethnic harmony and unconditionally standing up to protect the unitary status of Sri Lanka.

In 1983 - MEP was able to gain a seat in the parliament becoming one of the 12 opposition members in the parliament at the time. The government at the time had a 5/6th majority in parliament and was suppressing democracy, the MEP leader was one of the most active opposition members fighting against the suppression of the government.

The MEP youth wing was always standing up for democratic rule of governance, violence was not a path selected by the MEP youth wing. When the 1988-89 youth uprising took place in the country large number of young lives were lost, our leader and the youth wing fought ferociously in the parliament and in legal fronts to protect the lives of thousands of youth.

Since the defeat of terrorism the challenges put forward to the country and its youth have taken a different dimension, Connecting the rural youth back again to the modern world, access to technology, engaging youth in the development process, social inclusion and global threats such as climate change, have become the critical factors youth have to address.

With the guidance of Hon. Yadamini Gunawardena, the MEP Youth has been advocating & influencing the policy makers to ensure freedom of education, Access to technology, land and markets for young farmers, developing innovative and entrepreneurial spirit of youth, grooming youth to become politically active and become future policy makers.