Oxford University Sri Lanka Society ushers in dynamic new leadership

Thursday, 27 February 2025 09:14 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Oxford University Society of Sri Lanka (OUS Sri Lanka) has announced the election of its new leadership team at its recent Annual General Meeting.

Umayanga Nanayakkara will take the helm as President, with Sanjaya Ariyawansa serving as Vice President. The Society also expressed its gratitude to outgoing President, Rishan De Silva.

Building upon a legacy that resonates with the brilliance of Sri Lanka’s most influential figures – from political titans like S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, Lalith Athulathmudali, and Lakshman Kadirgamar to esteemed academic luminaries – OUS Sri Lanka continues to champion excellence. The newly-elected committee is dedicated to amplifying this legacy, fostering innovation and strengthening the bonds within the Oxford alumni fraternity.

The 2025-2026 committee comprises a diverse and accomplished group:

President: Umayanga Nanayakkara
Vice President: Sanjaya Ariyawansa
Secretary: Insaf Bakeer Markar
Treasurer: Hiran Embuldeniya
Impact: Praveen De Saram
Engagement: Rishan de Silva
Alumni Relations: Shathuki Perera and Nishen de Silva
Committee Members: Neluka De Silva and Ashok Ferrey

Igniting potential: A vision for tomorrow

The OUS Sri Lanka committee has achieved success with its flagship event, “Applying to Oxford?”.

“We’ve witnessed a surge in applications from diverse backgrounds helping students to successfully gain admission to Oxford,” says President Nanayakkara. “Our hope is that these brilliant minds will return to contribute significantly to Sri Lanka’s development.” Nanayakkara, a law graduate, has completed the Foundations of Diplomacy, the Oxford Foreign Service Program, and a Masters in South Asian Studies based out of St. Anthony’s College. He is currently a Director at AGC Innovate, driving green innovation which pioneered Sri Lanka’s first plastic modified asphalt road, winning multiple awards. Looking ahead, the agenda for 2025/26 includes a year of learning events, intellectual exchanges, cross-organisational partnerships, literary evenings, and strengthened regional collaborations.

Vice President Sanjaya Ariyawansa, a seasoned economist, brings a wealth of expertise as Senior Economist at the Economic Intelligence Unit of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and a visiting lecturer at the University of Moratuwa. His impressive career spans roles at the Parliamentary Committee on Public Finance, World Bank consultancy, and research at the University of Oxford. Ariyawansa holds an MSc in Economics from Oxford, a first-class BSc in Mathematics from the University of Colombo, and CIMA (UK) qualifications.

Connecting the global network: Engaging our alumni

The new committee is committed to cultivating a vibrant and dynamic alumni community. Oxford Alumni interested in learning more about OUS Sri Lanka and its activities are encouraged to contact the Society via email on [email protected], [email protected], [email protected].

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