Lankan Economist, Geologist attend Global Shapers Summit in Geneva 

Colombo-based economist Anushka Wijesinha and Kandy-based geology researcher Thusitha Nimalsiri represented Sri Lanka at the recently concluded Global Shapers Annual Curators Meeting (ACM) of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Geneva. 

Wijesinha, the Deputy Curator of the Colombo Hub and Nimalsiri, the Curator of the Kandy Hub, joined 450 young leaders from over 160 countries. 

The Global Shapers Community is a network of city-based Hubs developed and led by young leaders between 20 and 30 years old who want to develop their leadership potential towards having social impact. 

Speaking on his participation at the Summit, Wijesinha, currently the Chief Economist of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, said: “The ACM provides an unprecedented opportunity to forge global collaborations among like-minded young people. It’s coming at a crucial juncture, as Sri Lanka tries to strengthen our global positioning. Our Global Shapers hub can play a key role in this by leveraging on our unique network.”

Last year, Wijesinha attended the WEF’s Annual Meeting of New Champions in Tianjin, China, as one of just 50 Global Shapers selected internationally. 

Nimalsiri, a researcher at the National Institute of Fundamental Studies in Kandy, remarked: “The Kandy Hub is very new and the ACM was useful in understanding how to build the Hub so it can have a national and global impact.”

Addressing the closing of the Summit, WEF Founder Prof. Klaus Schwab said, “In a world that is globalising as well as polarising at the same time, young people have an important role to play in harnessing, as well as moderating, these forces.”