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| Tuesday, 3 August 2004 |
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The Sri Lankan delegation of 42 student leaders from 15 schools led by Head of State Fadhil Bakeer Markar of Asian International School and Deputy Head of State Lahiru Jayathilake of Stafford International School set a new benchmark at the recently concluded Future World Leaders Summit in Washington D.C, USA. Six Sri Lankans were elected by their respective working groups to present the communiques at the final summit on Friday, 16th July, 2004 in the Grand Ballroom of the Georgetown University Marriott Conference Center in Washington DC. They were Shehara Mendis of Ladies College who presented the communique on International Aid, Achala Rodrigo of Royal College on Peacekeeping, Shanika Arsekularatne formerly of Holy Family Convent and now at Asian International School on Nationalism, Deepa Somesunderam of Colombo International School on Health Concerns and Fadhil Bakeer Marker of Asian International School on Refugees. These 6 Sri Lankans were the only South Asians to present communiques at the summit which required a very high standard of English writing and oratory skills. Photos of summit are on website www.futureworldleader.org. Out of 11 working group communiques only 3 were passed by the 470-member summit representing 40 countries. Of the 3 that passed 2 communiques were presented by Sri Lankans, Shehara Mendis and Achala Rodrigo. For a communique to pass at this summit all participating nations must vote unanimously in favour of it. Each working group consisting of 45 student leaders from 40 countries elect their best 2 English orators to present their communique at the final summit to convince the 470-member student body to vote in favour. This is the first time 6 out of the 11 communiques at the Future World Leaders Summit were presented by student leaders from a country outside USA. This is a new benchmark for participating nations and a pride to all Sri Lankans as the future world leaders have recognised the English skills of our nation, said Ananda Rajapakse, South Asia Representative for Presidential Classroom Inc. USA. Presidential Classroom the oldest civic education organisation in USA brings together 450 promising student leaders age 16 to 19 to Washington DC to the future World Leaders Summit to explore International Relations, Diplomacy and World Economy. These students attend seminars, interact with influential world leaders and visit renowned sites of Democracy in the American Capital. Applications for the 2005 March Summit are available free of charge by sending your name and school to [email protected]. The speakers who addressed the July 2004 Summit were Klaus-Peter Gottwald, Deputy Chief of Mission of German Embassy in USA. Dr. Kim Holmes, Asst. Secretary for International Organisations of the US State Department, Scott Vaughan, Director, Organisation of American States, Maya Brahmam, Director of the World Bank, Col. Charles Pearcy and Dr. Alan Groupman of the Industrial College of the US Armed Forces at Fot McNair and Erika Eckstut a German holocaust survivor. Congressman Adam Putnam (R-FL) addressed the delegates in the floor of the US House of Representatives. Sri Lankan delegates also visited the Sri Lankan embassy in Wyoming Ave and had a very interactive discussion with Ambassador Devinda Subasinghe. |
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