Sixty six students for 2006 future world leaders' summit

COLOMBO: The Presidential Classroom brings together 550 student leaders from forty five countries to the future World Leaders Summit in Washington D.C., USA, to explore international relations, diplomacy and the changing world economy. This year Sri Lanka will be the largest foreign delegation at this summit with 66 delegates from 14 schools.

The selections are made on the recommendation of the school heads and the delegates are sponsored by their parents or the school. Presidential Classroom the oldest civic education organisation in USA was founded in 1968 in the tradition of President John. F. Kennedy who challenged the young Americans to be committed to public service.

These student leaders aged 16 to 19 experience better debating skills in a democratic environment, learn how to ask smart questions, become better listeners and how to appreciate diversity by debating current world issues with peers from a variety of backgrounds and culture.

Participation at this summit gives the Sri Lankan delegates an advantage to gain admissions to American Universities on scholarships. The Lankan delegation's high command of English has helped them to be elected to many leadership roles.

The Sri Lankan delegates are Janathri Nanayakkara, Pumi Perera, and Nirmani Dissanayake, Irushi Ratnaweera Viskha Vidyalaya, Heshitha Perera Mahanama College, Indula Wickremasinghe DS Senanayake College, Dineth Ranathunga Royal College, Sarah Dole Ladies College, Puthula Sumathipala, Wagisha Sumathipala, Nihili Senarath St. Bridget's Convent, Sharkshani Mathivanan, Meliza Cyril, Thushya Shah, Hassan Maniku, Menuwan Weerasinghe, Sohanya Wickramaratne, Thamalee Palansuriya, Abishek Devaraj, Darron, Henricus, Haresh Selvaskandan, Shehani De Alwis, Rameez Sattar, Shaileendra Ravindra, Charya De Silva, Imran Jeevunjee, Nikhil Amalean, Tehani de Fonseka, Thyagi Ruwanpathirana, Abdul Kareem, Nuzhath Kareem, Shazan Awam and Shanil Nethicumara Colombo International School, Yhevin Tissera, Shiraz Akbarally, Annemari De Silva, Bernadene Jayasundera, Abbyramy Paramanyakam, Nadishka Dayawansa, Jumana Amiruddeen, Keshani Ranatunge, Raeed Deen, Aamir Rahim, Tehasha Perera, Rahim Adatia, Minoli Peiris, Chanuk Algama and Saidomar Macasiling Asian International School in Colombo, Ishva Fairooz, Ushva Fairooz, Shave Faeroese, Natasha De Costa, Ashvini Shanmugeretnam, Sivakanthan Sivalingam, Rumeshi Wijayakumara, Venuka Devaz, Surekha Ranatunga British School, Amaya Weerasinghe, Janeen Fernando The Study, Sachini Fernando, Dasis Kottage Lyceum International, Madhubashini Fernando American National College, Jivanka Perera, Ama Maliduwapathirana Stafford International, Benign Gerard, Sakda Dharamadasa, Gateway College, Tilanka Tilekeratne. Sandra Obeysekera and Rochelle Melder of Asian International School will be the Delegation Managers.

Sri Lanka has been participating in the Future World Leaders summit as a full country delegation since year 2000 and 243 Sri Lankans have attended this summit and all have returned to Sri Lanka after the summit.

One hundred and ninety one of them have obtained financial scholarships and are now completing their higher education in American, British and Australian Universities. Eight of the ten Sri Lankans who participated in 2000 have graduated and are employed now.