Insights and reflections of Sri Lankan change-makers
Inspiring Sri Lanka’s current and future generations of youth through the stories of successful and innovative leaders, entrepreneurs, and drivers of change, on 6 February 2020, authors Indira Kithsiri and Hashendra Wijesinghe launched their book I am Inspired – an initiative stemming from The Sri Lanka Book Project aimed at locals seeking more from our cookie-cutter lives.
The Sri Lanka Book Project
The Sri Lanka Book Project was born out of the meeting of two kindred spirits by the coastal rail tracks of Bentota in 2016.
Sri Lankan by origin and identity, yet raised overseas, they’ve been constant visitors to the island out of their deep attachment to the country and its people. Initially introduced by a mutual friend, they connected upon realising that they shared a vision of uplifting the lives of our local youth. During their conversation, they discussed the phenomenal achievements of Sri Lankans in the country and around the world and reflected on the lack of an adequate platform to share their stories. This exchange led to the development of the Sri Lanka Book Project. Today, the project hopes to utilise the power of storytelling to foster entrepreneurship and innovation amongst the future generations of Sri Lanka.
Their desire is that the youth will be encouraged to shed their inhibitions, take a leap of faith, and pursue their passions by engaging in this initiative, which will take a three-pronged approach:
1. The I am Inspired coffee table book
2. A Sinhala and Tamil career-planning high school textbook
3. The Sparklers Foundation Sri Lanka
I am Inspired contains the insights of inspirational leaders with Sri Lankan roots based in the country and around the world. Spanning across eight chapters, the consolidated biographical portraits are most critical to Sri Lanka’s development.
The 50 personalities featured in the book have been selected in consideration of the following criteria:
· Recognition of the achievements in (at least) one of the eight domains of expertise/chapters
· Strong leadership and a knack for innovation and enterprise
· Commitment to act as drivers of change and promote societal wellbeing
· Exceptional self-awareness and an inclination for continuous self-development and learning
Their key endeavour in selecting the featured profiles has been to consolidate and present a gender-balanced and ethnically diverse group of personalities, representative of the heterogeneity of Sri Lanka’s population. A public nominations portal was developed on their website, www.sparklers-foundation.org, in May 2017 to enable Sri Lankans to recognise individuals who have left a positive impact on them and their communities. The nominees were then shortlisted, with five profiles ultimately chosen for each chapter, with the exception of the “Start-up and Enterprise” chapter, which features 10 profiles. The selection was done in consultation with the book’s mentors, all of whom are icons in their industry or field of expertise.
All proceeds from book sales will be donated to the Sparklers Foundation, which will run capacity-building programmes for young Sri Lankans exhibiting exceptional entrepreneurial and leadership skills. This will include the printing and distribution of the textbook versions in Sinhala and Tamil, including reflective exercises and career-planning tools tailored to high school students, alongside the stories. We hope to further collaborate with other organisations to guide teachers to effectively teach and create dialogue on the themes and stories of the inspiring personalities.
Kithsiri and Wijesinghe said: “It is now in the hands of millennials to weave the fabric of societal change and drive innovation in constructing a better world. It is in turn our responsibility to engage, inspire, and empower them through education and exposure to life-changing opportunities.
Resilience is the key to thriving in a landscape of constant change. There’s no better way to instil this in our society than to highlight individuals who’ve beaten the odds in a similar cultural and socio-political environment. Seeing parts of themselves reflected in these change-makers will help inspire hope and possibilities in the minds of our youth. A platform of this nature will ensure that their drive, not their backgrounds, is what defines them.”
Indira Kithsiri, co-author
Born in the mountains of Switzerland to a Swiss mother and Sri Lankan father, Indira has always voiced the importance of society’s investment in youth. Her passion for social enterprise and the mentoring of young entrepreneurs is the crux for this initiative. She holds a BSc.in International Hospitality Management from the Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne, Switzerland.
Alongside her studies, she founded SAHANA Sri Lanka, a non-profit organisation aiming to improve the living conditions and educational opportunities of underprivileged youth and women in Sri Lanka. Indira’s professional career has spanned more than 10 years working in project development, relationship management, and communications across Europe, India, and Sri Lanka. These have included working across the private and non-profit sectors, ranging from the level of startups to multinationals.
Her most recent role was with the World Economic Forum (WEF), where she managed strategic relationships with representatives of governments in South Asia. Today, she brings Sri Lankan hospitality to the Swiss Alps through Mountain Heritage; a collection of bespoke properties with contemporary Asian influences named “Indama”, “Nangi”, and “Samsara”.
Hashendra Wijesinghe, co-author
A culture nomad having spent his childhood between Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Malaysia, and Singapore; his most desired outcome from the Sri Lanka Book Project was the establishment of the Sparklers Foundation Sri Lanka. He aspires to use the foundation as a platform to upskill young Sri Lankans in the areas of leadership, entrepreneurship, and career development, particularly youth from low socioeconomic backgrounds, and with disabilities.
Hashendra holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Arts (Politics and Development Studies) from the Australian National University (ANU). He has a diverse skillset built across the corporate and non-profit sectors, including areas such as risk and management consulting, project management, communications, and research with organisations like KPMG and Morphosis Sustainability.
His international upbringing has made him passionate about resilient communities and sustainable built environments. He is a WEF Global Shaper, and currently manages the “Job Smart” programme at the University of Sydney, coaching high potential international students on employability skills and personal branding.
The chapters
Arts and culture
Mentors: Saskia Fernando Gallery, Art Space Sri Lanka, and Papillon Du Thé Director Saskia Fernando-Yatawara and Chairman and Head of Design at Paradise Road Group of Companies Udayshanth Fernando
These real-life stories will present the opportunities that exist in a career in the arts and narrate the amazing individuals who have worked against all odds to change the contemporary art and design culture in our Sri Lankan society today. I am confident that this project will provide creative individuals with the inspiration they need to work towards the growth and maintenance of Sri Lankan art and culture.” – Saskia Fernando
“These stories should inspire youth to identify their career path and also assist them in finding out who they are and their directions in life. Everyone is born with a talent and it is vital that one discovers where their strengths lie in order to succeed in their future.
“This book is a celebration of all that’s possible. While it showcases the work of a handful, it is a glimpse of the talent and capacity that is widely spread throughout our island, and serves as a reminder of the hidden voices that rarely get the limelight. These individuals spend their days solving real problems, and strive to leave the planet a better place than they found it.” – Udayshanth Fernando
Education, science, and research
Mentor: Marine biologist, ocean educator, and pioneer of blue whale research within the Northern Indian Ocean Dr. Asha De Vos
Human rights and philanthropy
Mentors: Foundation of Goodness Founder Kushil Gunasekera and National Peace Council of Sri Lanka Executive Director Jehan Perera
“A meaningful life will always incorporate the impact made on touching the lives of others if you let humane qualities be your guide. The series of expert chapters on this unique creation with numerous topics will inspire the younger generation to attain superior levels for the good of our nation.” – Kushil Gunasekera
“What is needed for Sri Lanka to progress is a unifying political value system that accommodates the country’s multiethnic and multireligious reality. We need to create a society in which every vote is equal, regardless of the ethnicity and religion of the voter, and there are guarantees of non-discrimination and equal treatment of every citizen regardless of ethnicity or religion. With their energy and openness to new ideas, my vision is of youth in the vanguard of this movement for change.” – Jehan Perera
Public policy and governance
Mentor: Institute of Policy Studies Chairman and National University of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy Associate Professor Razeen Sally
“Sri Lankan public policy and governance demand rejuvenation, and this can only come from the ideas and activism of the younger generation. This project brings together young professionals who aspire to do something better for their country. For this reason, it is a welcome contribution.” – Razeen Sally
Sports and adventure
Mentor: Cricketer and reconciliation-through-sports activist Muttiah Muralitharan
“Sports unites us, regardless of race, gender, or social standing. A publication like this is crucial in identifying the individuals taking Sri Lanka to the next level as a brand, through achievements in their game, or through their pursuit of challenging quests for greater motivation.” – Muttiah Muralitharan
Startup and enterprise
Mentor: Conspiracy of Love Founder and Chief Purpose Officer Afdhel Aziz
“As a proud member of the Sri Lankan diaspora, it’s my honour to contribute to this book and I hope that it will give us inspiration that what we must work towards is not just economic success, but social justice and equality – for women, for ethnic minorities, and for members of other oppressed communities who are discriminated against, because without true equality and true representation, there is no real success and no real democracy.” – Afdhel Aziz
Sustainability and conservation
Mentor: Global Strategic Corporate Sustainability (Pvt.) Ltd. Chairman and CEO Dr. Ravi Fernando
“Sri Lanka signed the Paris agreement to commit to reducing carbon emissions by mobilising the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in December 2015, further ratifying it in April 2016. The current pursuit of impetuous economic growth may significantly jeopardise this commitment. As such, our nation needs a platform of this nature to encourage our younger generations to collaborate in creating and implementing a sustainable development strategy for the future.” – Dr. Ravi Fernando
Tourism and hospitality
Mentor: Jetwing Hotels Sri Lanka Chairman Hiran Cooray
“Sri Lanka continues to go from strength to strength in tourism and hospitality. As such, we need to highlight the stories of those who have made a difference in the sector and further motivate the youth to enhance, enrich, and pioneer the breaking of new ground in their fields of passion.” – Hiran Cooray
