First Young Global Leaders event in Sri Lanka

For the first time in Sri Lanka, the Young Global Leaders event of the World Economic Forum was held from 16-18 February. The event was a great success according to the participants. Thirty Young Global Leaders participated from South Asian countries for this event, called the “South Asia Bridge Initiative (SABI)”. The conference focused on improving and strengthening relationships among South Asian countries and implementing action oriented initiatives to uplift the lives of the less privileged in the region. 

During the visit, delegates interacted with Ranil Wickramasinghe Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. The interaction was moderated by Asanga Abeyagoonasekera the Young Global Leader from Sri Lanka who organised the event. The Young Global Leaders discussed economic and political challenges faced by the country and the region congratulated the Prime Minister on the new economic reforms introduced. During the discussion a Young Global Leaders Advisory Council was initiated to assist the Prime Minister.

The Young Global Leaders were invited to the Ministry of Finance by Ravi Karunanayake and they also visited the Ministry of Defence for an interaction with Secretary of Defence Hettiarachi and other distinguished military officers to understand the post conflict challenges of the country. They also visited the Chamber of commerce and participated in a cultural evening arranged by the Ministry of Tourism. 

The Young Global Leaders includes some of the world’s top names from all walks of life including Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergei Brin, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, actor Leonardo Di Caprio, Anderson Cooper, Farhan Akhtar, Queen Mathilde of Belgium,Lera Auerbach, Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, Prime Minister David Cameron, Enrique Peña Nieto President of Mexico and many more from diverse fields of expertise.