Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs at BIMSTEC Youth Summit

A Landmark Step toward Strengthening Regional Youth Collaboration

High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha met the Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports, Hon. Sunil Kumara Gamage, at India House.

The Hon. Minister was accompanied by Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs Eranga Gunasekara who led Sri Lanka’s 10-member delegation to the BIMSTEC Youth Summit.

The Summit was hosted by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, from Feb. 7 to 11, at the Mahatma Mandir Convention Centre in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

At the BIMSTEC Youth Summit, Sri Lanka’s delegation presented several key youth empowerment initiatives of the Government of Sri Lanka.

These included the V4R program, Multi-Modal Centres (MMC) for youth, IT-related projects, and initiatives to enhance the quality of vocational education programs.

On the margins of the Summit, India’s Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, met Deputy Minister Hon. Eranga Gunasekara.

The discussions focused on enhancing cooperation between India and Sri Lanka through youth exchange programs in various sectors, including education, technology, entrepreneurship, sports, and culture.

The Sri Lankan side expressed keen interest in learning from Indian youth initiatives of Viksit Bharat and MY Bharat.

The Summit brought together youth leaders from BIMSTEC member countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.

The ‘Youth as a Bridge for Intra-BIMSTEC Exchange’ provided a dynamic platform for delegates to foster regional collaboration and facilitate the exchange of youth-led initiatives.

In addition to the sessions, the delegates participated in cultural experiences and site visits, connecting with India’s rich history and its commitment to innovation and sustainable development.