53 Lankan teens for 2007 future leaders summit

COLOMBO: Each year, Presidential Classroom brings together 550 student leaders from 45 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 send 53 delegates from 12 schools to this unique summit designed specially for teenagers. They leave to USA on 21st July.

The summit is held at the prestigious Georgetown University and all delegates will live on campus during the 8 days. The selections are made on the recommendation of the school principal and are sponsored by their parents.

Presidential Classroom is the oldest civic education organization in USA and founded in 1968 in the tradition of President John. F. Kennedy, who challenged the young Americans to be committed to public service.

At the summit these student leaders who are 16 to 19 years and with a high command of the English language, experience better debating skills in a democratic environment, learn how to ask smart questions, how to become better listeners and how to appreciate diversity by debating current world issues with peers from a variety of backgrounds and cultures.

Participation at this summit gives the Sri Lankan delegates an advantage to gain admissions to American Universities on scholarships.The Sri Lankan delegates for the 2007 July summit are, from Asian International School Rahul Edirisinghe, Umeshi Rajeendra, Brindini Selvarajah, Nafeesa Jafferjee, Naveendran Rajendran, Sindhiya Soundaraj, Rodric Francis, Rashmin Sappideen, Rushenka, Jayah, Kulani Panapitiya, Sakina Esufally, Seyanga De Silva, Nadeesha Seneviratne, Ranmali Hatharasinghe, Janith Rupasinghe, Shohan Attapattu, Hassanally Esufally, From American National College - Dewruk Rajapakse From British School in Colombo - Sonalie Bogollagama, Prabhashi Wijayakumara, Dhusanthan Ravindran Ethan Sivarajah, Josiena Chokatte, Mitheshe Vidanagamage, Iufa Mohamed.

From Colombo International School - Tarika Jayaratne, Shavesh Mendis, Sineth Weerasinghe, Suhaby Sangani, Nirusha Karunaratne, Amirally Abdulhussein, Rukshan, Attapattu, Kunal Amalean, Shruthi Mathews, Dinesh Rajendran, Akshay Amalean, Rahul Hundlani, Nazneen Jeevunjee, Sabina Ambani, Dhushiyanth Arunasalam, Ayala De Mel and Hussein Faiz, From Elizabeth Moir School - Zara Mathew and Charlotte Ballard (a British Student living in Sri Lanka since year 5) From Gateway College Kandy - Sampath Hemachandra and Sidath Hemachandra. From St. Thomas Collage Mt. Lavinia - Danushka Fernando and Raveen Wickremasinghe, From Ladies College - Nihara Gunesekera, From Nalanda College Colombo Janith Damboragama.

From Royal College Keminda Attygalle and Sahan Kulatunga, From Overseas School of Colombo - Dineeka De Silva. From St. Bridget’s convent - Romali Boteju. Ms. Rochelle Melder a senior teacher from Asian International School is the Delegation Manager for 2007 that will supervise their orientations in Colombo and accompany the delegates to USA. For photos of delegates visit www.futureworldleader.org

“Sri Lanka has been participating in the Future World Leaders Summit as full country delegation since year 2000 and over 300 Sri Lankan student leaders have attended this summit and all have returned to Sri Lanka after the summit” says, Ananda Rajapakse, Honorary South Asia Representative for Presidential Classroom Inc.

USA, who introduced this leadership program to Sri Lanka in 2000. Of those delegates who participated in the summit, 194 of them have obtained financial scholarships to complete their higher education in American, British and Australian Universities.

“8 of the first two batches of 20 Sri Lankan teens who went for the summit have graduated and are now employed in Sri Lanka while others have obtained further scholarships for post graduate studies” said Rajapakse.