First Lankan youth delegates to the UN

Nipuni WIMALASENA

Two youths were selected as the first youth delegates from Sri Lanka to the United Nations General Assembly to represent the country. Jayathma Wikramanayake and Aruthra Rajasingham, backed by academic and extracurricular talents, are now in New York participating in the programme.

Aruthra Rajasingham

Jayathma Wikramanayake

Commenting on the achievement, National Youth Services Council (NYSC) chairman and Director General Lalith Pium Perera said this is a significant

accomplishment for Sri Lankan youths to expand their exposure to international affairs and to contribute Sri Lankan youths’ point of view to the UN which will help shape the country’s image.

“We are especially focusing on youth participation in international programmes since it would open a novel path to youths through which they can contribute much to the country’s development agenda and move with the highly developing world.

"As a country, we possess a demographic advantage since 26 percent of the country’s population is youths. We should make use of it in the process of development,” he said.

Rajasingham is a social worker who has worked extensively with youths. She has done her first degree in Social Work and is following her Masters in Development Practices at the Peradeniya University.

Wikramanayake is an undergraduate of the Colombo University attached to the Science Faculty. She is an ex - participant of the Rio +20 summit.