Sri Lanka has experienced several youth uprisings in recent history. In 1971, after violent rebellions against the government, 10,000 insurgents, most of them teenagers, died in just two weeks. In 1983 more rioting took place. Over the period, more than 50,000 youth were killed.
Now both the government and private sector institutions, such as Hatton National Bank, have taken the lead in finding a permanent solution to empower youth. Some of the measures carried out include:
-Youth empowerment programs and youth-focused savings and lending programs
-The “Gami Pubuduwa Programme”: HNB saw the need for a body to educate youth about the value of engaging in income-generating activities, and supported youth taking the program challenge.
Understanding the history of the youth population inSri Lankaenabled HNB to design financial and non-financial products that suited young people’s needs, beliefs, and reality.
