Prashan De Visser recognised as 2nd Commonwealth Point of Light from Sri Lanka

Tuesday, 14 August 2018 00:30 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Prashan De Visser is pictured with British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka James Dauris and Southern Development and Youth Affairs Minister Sagala Ratnayake

In honour of his exceptional voluntary service, engaging young people and promoting peace across Sri Lanka, her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II yesterday recognised Prashan De Visser as the second Commonwealth Point of Light from Sri Lanka.

By sharing these stories of service, the Commonwealth Points of Light Awards celebrate inspirational acts of volunteerism across the Commonwealth and help inspire others to make their own contribution to tackling some of the greatest social challenges of our time.

Prashan De Visser, upon receiving the award, said: “I am humbled and honoured to receive this award. Serving youth in Sri Lanka and other countries in the midst of or recovering from violent conflict is my passion and calling- a new generation which serves with character and integrity towards unity, justice, excellence and strategic purpose to transform the destiny and direction of their nations.”

UK High Commissioner James Dauris, congratulating De Visser on the award, said: “Prashan De Visser is a most deserving recipient of a Commonwealth Points of Light Award. He has dedicated a huge amount of time to working for reconciliation in Sri Lanka.”

Speaking on De Visser’s Sri Lanka Unites youth movement, the High Commissioner noted: “Sri Lanka Unites operates across the country and has brought thousands of young leaders together from every community at an all-important time of peace-building in the country. Drawing on its success here, Prashan is now taking the model to other countries affected by conflict to help bring change and build the foundations needed for safer, more prosperous futures.” Prashan De Visser is the president and founder of ‘Sri Lanka Unites’, a youth movement bringing young people together in the aftermath of the war. De Visser launched the movement in 2009 and since then, Sri Lanka Unites has grown to a 20,000-member community of 12 to 30-year-olds from different ethnic and religious backgrounds, active in 25 districts. They have created five reconciliation centres for young people to come together to discuss collaboration and to promote peace. Under De Visser›s leadership, the charity employs 15 full-time members of staff, including a team which visits local schools to share the charity’s vital work.