Young representatives from six South Asian countries gathered at Sri Lanka’s High Commission in New Delhi on 7 October for a programme on youth policy, advocacy and rights, according to the mission.
The One-Day Pre-South Asian Youth Summit 2026 brought together participants from India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and the Maldives. Project Point, an Odisha-based youth and social development organisation, organised the event with Vishwa Yuvak Kendra.
Sri Lanka’s High Commission hosted the gathering, while the closing session took place at Vishwa Yuvak Kendra in New Delhi. The programme combined discussion of youth leadership with exchanges about the region’s cultural traditions and experiences.
Participants considered youth participation, advocacy, rights and the Sustainable Development Goals. Discussions also addressed the role of young people in developing inclusive, sustainable and peaceful societies.
The gathering was intended to provide opportunities for representatives to share experiences, establish friendships and develop networks across national boundaries. Participants from Odisha connected the programme with the organisers’ wider emphasis on links between that region and Sri Lanka.
Project Point’s international initiatives include youth exchanges involving Sri Lankan and Nepalese participants. The organisation lists an India–Sri Lanka Youth Exchange Programme among those activities.
The High Commission’s account placed the summit within a broader history of engagement between Kalinga, associated with present-day Odisha, and Sri Lanka. Its presentation connected those historical links with contemporary exchanges between young people.
Second Secretary Thilina Galappatti represented the High Commission. He highlighted opportunities for young people to exchange perspectives and communicate their aspirations, identifying their ideas and participation as important to the region’s future.
The event brought youth representatives and organisers into the same programme to discuss shared regional concerns and different national experiences. Its focus on policy, leadership and cultural exchange formed the basis for the cross-border discussions held during the day.
The police have?sought?the assistance of the international police INTERPOL, to track down and arrest 8 suspects wanted in connection with a multi million Rupee VAT fraud. The police media unit said that an open?warrant?has been issued to arrest the suspects who are?overseas and INTERPOL assistance has also been sought. A statement by the police media unit today said that another 6?suspects?who were produced in court yesterday over the case had pleaded guilty. Three of them were sentenced to jail
President says traditions must be protected
President Mahinda Rajapaksa, in his?traditional?New Year message, has called on Sri Lankans to protect the local traditions. He said that the “Aluth Avurudda? is a great cultural festival that has been observed by Sri Lankans from ancient times. “It is the festival that marks the great association of Mother Earth with the Sun. Sri Lankans who are nurtured by an agricultural lifestyle meaningfully accepts the dawn of this traditional New Year,” he said. The President said that the fullest joy of
Two bombs tore through the crowded finish line of the Boston Marathon, leaving at least three dead and injuring as many as 130 people in a terrifying scene of shattered glass, bloodstained pavements, and severed limbs. The bombs ripped apart the relaxed and celebratory atmosphere of Patriots’ Day as participants took their final strides in the world’s oldest and most prestigious race. An eight-year-old boy was reported among the dead, while more than 100 Irish runners were caught up in the chaos
Copyright © 2026 Colombo Gazette. All rights reserved.
Colombo Gazette is a leading news and entertainment website, covering stories related to Sri Lanka. The content consists of text based news, photos and videos and is linked to social media websites including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, to provide a wider coverage for its stories.
Loading comments…