Young South Asian Voices Connect at Sri Lanka High Commission, New Delhi

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.