Two Sri Lankans Named Among Commonwealth’s 100 Young Leaders for 2026

Two Sri Lankans, Geilee Skandakumar and Kishoth Navaretnarajah, have been named among the Commonwealth’s 100 Young Leaders for 2026, recognising their contributions to youth empowerment, social impact and community development.

They were selected from thousands of applications across the Commonwealth, joining a group of 100 young changemakers acknowledged for their leadership and efforts to create positive change in their communities.

Driving Youth Empowerment and Advocacy

Geilee Skandakumar, founder of Rooted South Asia, has trained more than 2,000 young people and professionals in rights and advocacy.

Through her work, she has focused on equipping individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to understand their rights, strengthen their voices and contribute to social change.

Using Innovation to Empower Communities

Kishoth Navaretnarajah, co-founder of DreamSpace Academy in Batticaloa, has been working to empower underserved communities through technology, education and grassroots innovation.

The initiative uses learning and innovation to create opportunities for young people and communities, encouraging them to develop solutions to local challenges.

Sri Lankan Youth Leadership on the Global Stage

The recognition of Skandakumar and Navaretnarajah highlights the contribution of Sri Lankan youth to social development and community-led initiatives.

Their inclusion among the Commonwealth’s 100 Young Leaders for 2026 reflects the impact of young people who are using their knowledge, skills and leadership to address challenges and create opportunities for others.

The achievement also brings international recognition to Sri Lanka’s emerging generation of changemakers and their work in building more inclusive and empowered communities.