Invited by the Secretariat of the Youth Employment Network (YEN), Hon. Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Minister of Youth Affairs, Sri Lanka, is presently in Geneva (Switzerland) to attend the 3^rd YEN Lead Country Meeting. The meeting titled Establishing Benchmarks for successful Youth Employment Policies and Programs, is organised by the YEN Secretariat of the ILO United Nations, ILO and the World Bank and is held today (10^th June 2008 )at the ILO head quarters in Geneva.

The meeting will enable the invited Ministers and High Level officials to establish a regular benchmarking and peer review process in YEN Lead Countries. It is attended by 12 lead countries of Asia, Africa and Europe and many other special international agencies. 

Hon. Mrs. Pavithra Wanniarachchi,Minister of Youth Affairs,

Sri Lanka

The YEN was created under the impetus of the Millennium Declaration, when Heads of State and Government gathered at the Millennium Summit in September 2000 and resolved to "develop and implement strategies that give young people everywhere a real chance to find decent and productive work”. YEN is co-sponsored by the United Nations and the World Bank.