Finding leader in me...

I officially began my leadership journey in school, starting as a member of the leader board and junior prefects board and eventually becoming part of the senior prefects board, where I held the position of head prefect. Engaging with many students daily over four years, I learned to understand and effectively assist them. The most important qualities I gained were valuing time—both my own and others'—taking responsibility and making decisions.

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These early leadership positions laid the foundation for my journey. I learned to balance academics with extracurricular activities, gaining an understanding of what leadership truly entails. My first experience leading a larger student community in Sri Lanka broadened my perspective on leadership.
My understanding of leadership deepened during my undergraduate years when I took on more significant roles at national and international levels. As a youth leader and advocate for sustainable development, human rights, and peace, I worked in diverse fields and engaged with varied communities. This experience taught me to work with teams, learn from them, communicate effectively, and identify opportunities and talents.

I discovered my passion for international human rights at the University of Colombo, and in 2015, I had the opportunity to join ‘The Road to Rights,’ a youth-led movement for human rights education. My active engagement in rights promotion led to being named the outstanding volunteer of the year in 2016. I represented Sri Lanka as a youth delegate at the 13th International Youth Human Rights Summit at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, USA.

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I have consistently volunteered with several international and national youth organisations. I actively participated in programs such as ‘Orange the World – End Violence Against Women and Girls,’ ‘The Youth Vote SL Campaign,’ ‘The Road to Rights Youth Summit & Peace Expo,’ ‘Youth for Rights 2017,’ and the ‘Tourism for All’ project. I received an award in recognition of my participation in the National Voters’ Day celebration and my commitment to advancing youth engagement in the democratic process in 2017. As a student, I interned at the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation, where I supported several peace and reconciliation projects in Sri Lanka. 

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