63 Lankan teens leave for World Summit in USA

Each year, Presidential Classroom brings together 500 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 be the largest foreign delegation at this summit with 66 delegates from 14 schools. They left to USA on July 21st.

The selections are made on the recommendation of the school heads and delegates are sponsored by their parents. Presidential Classroom is the oldest civic education organisation in USA, founded in 1968 in the tradition of President John F. Kennedy, who challenged the young Americans to first serve their country.

At the summit these student leaders who are 16 to 19 years, 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 high command of English displayed by Sri Lankan delegates have helped them to be elected to many leadership roles in the past few summits. Applications for 2007 can be emailed to [email protected]

The Sri Lankan delegates for the 2006 July summit are: Janathri Nanayakkara, Pumi Perera, Nirmani Dissanayake and Irushi Ratnaweera from Visakha Vidyalaya, Indula Wickremasinghe from D. S. Senanayake College, Dineth Ranathunga from Royal College, Sarah Dole from Ladies College, Puthula Sumathipala, Wagisha Sumathipala (sisters), Nihili Senarath from St. Bridget's Convent, Meliza Cyril, Thushya Shah, 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 (brother and sister), Shazan Awam and Shani Nethicumara from Colombo International Scool, Yhevin Tissera, Shiraz Akbarally, Annemari De Silva, Bernadene Jayasundera, Abbyramy Paramanayakam, Nadishka Dayawansa, Jumana Amiruddeen, Keshani Ranatunge, Raeed Deen, Aamir Rahim, Tehasha Perera, Rahim Adatia, Minoli Peiris, Chanuk Algama and Saidomar Macasiling from Asian International School, Natasha De Costa, Ashvini Shanmugeretnam, Sivakanthan Sivalingam, Rumeshi Wijayakumara, Venuka Devaz, Surekha Ratnatunga from British School in Colombo, Amaya Weerasinghe and Janeen Fernando (formerly student of St. Sebastians Moratuwa) from The Study, Sachini Fernando, Dasis Kottage from Lyceum International, Madhubashini Fernando from American National College, Jivanka Perera, Ama Maliduwapathirana and Heshitha Perera (formerly of Mahanama College) from Stafford International, Benign Gerard, Sakda Dharamadasa, Tilanka Tilekeratne from Gateway International College. Ishva Fairooz, Ushva Fairooz (twins) studying at The British School in Colombo and Hassan Maniku studying at Colombo International School joined the Sri Lankan delegates from the Maldives. Ms. Rochelle Melder and Sandra Obeysekera, teachers from Asian International School are the Delegation Managers.