10 November 2013
Your Excellency, Honourable Ministers, distinguished guests, youth delegates, Commonwealth friends…
There can no better way of launching our great Commonwealth gathering and festival for 2013 in Sri Lanka this week than to join you here in Hambantota for this celebration to open the Commonwealth Youth Forum.
I thank our hosts, the government and people of Sri Lanka, for the generosity and warmth of welcome we have received. I applaud all who have worked so hard to deliver this Forum, and those of you who have travelled many thousands of miles from across the Commonwealth to be here.
The energy and optimism of youth raises our ambition for what we can achieve together as a global family and gives us confidence that we can shape the future. It is by including all, with respect and understanding for diversity, and unity forged from shared goals, that the true Commonwealth spirit is advanced. The theme for this Forum puts it well: ‘Inclusive Development: Stronger Together’.
In the fast-moving and closely-connected world of today the contribution of young people to national development and the values of our societies, and the development of the Commonwealth globally, is pivotal.
Young people have never before had such ability and opportunity as this generation enjoys of communicating easily and instantly with fellow youth worldwide.
