India is a youthful country. A country with such a major percentage of youth has the capability to change not only its own, but the fate of the entire world.

I am not here, of course, as one pretending to any expertness on questions of youth and children - except in the sense that, within their own families, all grandfathers are experts on these matters.

I have met 18 million youth, and each wants to be unique.

An economically peaceful and prosperous Sri Lanka is the dream of youth of the nation. My message for the youth is to collectively work for an inclusively developed Sri Lanka.

So I simply don't buy the concept of "Generation X" as the "lost generation." I see too many good kids out there, kids who are ready and willing to do the right thing, just as Jack was. Their distractions are greater, though. There's no more simple life with simple choices for the young.

Today, the youth of India have a wide range of opportunities, something we never had. I hope India's youngsters harness these opportunities coming their way.