Empowering the Youth in a Changing World: Opportunities from China–Sri Lanka Cooperation-Workshop conducted by CPID
The Centre for Policy Innovation and Development (CPID) successfully concluded its inaugural workshop, “Empowering the Youth in a Changing World: Opportunities from China–Sri Lanka Cooperation,” bringing together 45 emerging young leaders from diverse professional, academic, and social backgrounds in Colombo.
The workshop was designed to help young leaders better understand the rapidly evolving global landscape while exploring the opportunities arising from the growing partnership between Sri Lanka and China. Participants engaged in discussions on geopolitics, economic transformation, technological innovation, governance, and youth leadership.
Mr. Mei Jing, Counsellor and Mr. Jin Enze, Second Secretary of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China attended to the work shop as special invited guests.
The programme featured four distinguished resource persons who shared their expertise from different perspectives.
Mr. Indrananda Abeysekera, President of the Association for Sri Lanka–China Socio-Cultural Cooperation, spoke on the longstanding Sri Lanka–China relationship, emerging challenges and opportunities, Chinese culture, and China’s approach to human development.
Mr. Vinod Munasinghe, Convener of the Asia Progress Forum, delivered a comprehensive session on China’s 15th Five-Year Plan, explaining its priorities and the opportunities it presents for economic development, regional cooperation, and young people.
Mr. Hemantha Srilal, political commentator and social media influencer, discussed the impact of digital culture, youth-led protest movements, and the evolving role of young people in South Asia’s political and social landscape.
Mr. Dilanka Karunarathne, a Master of Public Administration graduate from Tsinghua University, China shared his experiences studying in China and provided insights into governance, public policy, and leadership in a rapidly changing world.
The interactive discussions and question-and-answer sessions reflected the strong interest among participants in understanding global developments and identifying new opportunities through China–Sri Lanka cooperation.
Centre for Policy Innovation and Development (CPID) is an independent Colombo-based think tank committed to creating platforms that empower young leaders with knowledge, global perspectives, and practical insights to contribute meaningfully to Sri Lanka’s future. CPID dedicated to advancing practical, evidence-based public policy for Sri Lanka and South Asia. The organization plans to conduct a series of similar workshops across the country in the coming months.
