Features
Visiting Egypt and France: Some sightseeing
(Continued from last week)
In these circumstances, I had an earnest discussion with the Minister. I told him that in my view it would be disastrous to fill vacancies from MP’s lists. I explained that this would have serious and long term repercussions on the public service. I further said that surely any government had to review these dismissals, some of them good officers with long service records, and gradually take most of them back. The government would be completely foreclosing this option if vacancies were hurriedly filled. Given all these circumstances I concluded by telling him that I was going to resist the instant filling of vacancies as best as I can. The Minister, Mr. Herat did not disagree.
He himself was partly embarrassed by these developments. He however warned me that given the prevailing mood in governmental circles, I should be very careful in how I set about resisting, since I could be accused of sabotage. I thanked him for his advice and said that I did not want to do anything without keeping him informed, but that both on moral grounds and in the long term interests of the public service, I was going to resist in whatever way I could.
In fairness, I have to record that a significant number of public officers with UNP affiliations, including some Trade Unionists were of the view that the government had gone too far. They were for some kind of punishment, but did not favour the mass dismissals or the urgent attempts to fill vacancies. I was supported in my “resistance,” by many of them including Mr. Bodhi Liyanarachchi who functioned as an Assistant Secretary to the Ministry. Mr. Liyanarachchi was a UNP Trade Unionist who became an Assistant Secretary, when the government decided to create this special post in the Ministries in order to accommodate some of their Trade Unionists. I found him to be clear thinking, balanced, and humane. He fully agreed with my analysis. He too thought that the government had been too hasty, and had gone too far.
I received invaluable support from him as well as some others. It was not pleasant trying to stonewall the urgings of Members of Parliament to appoint their nominees. One of the arguments I used was that we were overstaffed and that the dismissals had largely rectified this position. There was therefore no need to take on many people, for really there were no vacancies. This was only partially true and I could plainly see that I was not the most popular public servant with a number of MPS. In the heat of the moment, one or two accused me of being “anti-government.” Several others were visibly displeased.
But because of the attitude of the Minister who allowed me a free hand, and Mr. Liyanarachchi and others who backed me, we were by and large able to hold the line. Later we came to know that the Ministry of Food and Co-operatives and the Departments and Agencies under it were amongst the very few, which successfully preserved many of the vacancies. In due course, when the government relented, there were jobs for many of the strikers to come back.
In the end, the fairly long period of tension and unpleasantness that we went through was worth it. We received the heartfelt thanks of numerous individual officers as well as Trade Unions. They were fully appreciative of the unpopularity and even the personal detriment to our careers that we risked during this whole episode. Even ten to twelve years later when important office bearers from powerful “Left” unions telephoned, I was pleasantly surprised that they both knew and remembered what was done in 1980. Some of them still thanked me, over a decade later. The interesting thing was, that much later, when I talked about this whole matter with some important UNP Ministers, they themselves acknowledged that they had acted too hastily.
There is a small postscript to these momentous events. The Cabinet decided to make a special payment to those who worked during the strike, in the form o’ a lump sum payment based on one’s salary. In terms of this decision what was due to me was not small. But I declined the payment. When several officers asked me why, I merely said that I felt that I did not need any extra payment for discharging my normal public duties, which included functioning during a crisis. This is how I rationalized it to others.
But my rejection of the allowance was due more to my state of feelings rather than my intellect. I felt that it was “blood money,” and that I would be happier without it.
Visit to Egypt and France
The Prima Flour Mill was originally due to open during early 1981. But work had progressed quite rapidly, and soon we were informed that the mill would open towards the end of November 1980. As I had indicated earlier, we followed the practice of placing orders for food cargoes two to three months ahead. This was to obviate shipping delays and various contingencies and to ensure that there was no breakdown in the smooth flow of supplies. Since rice, flour and sugar were staples and therefore the most sensitive commodities, we did nothing at the last moment. We had now to switch over from ordering wheat flour, to the ordering of whole wheat.
But the earlier than anticipated opening of the mill meant that we would have too much stocks of flour towards the end of the year. These stocks were already on order. It was calculated that we would now not require about 30,000 metric tons of flour we had ordered. If these stocks arrived, a significant portion of this could have gone bad in the stores. There were a series of discussions on this, and ultimately the Cabinet decided that we should try to sell the flour to another country. The suppliers of the bulk of this quantity Coffracial of France was not prepared for a cancellation of the order without a fairly heavy payment of compensation.
Our Trade Commissions abroad and the appropriate local embassies were informed. Within a few days, we received information from our Embassy in Egypt that Egypt was interested in purchasing this flour and that the Egyptian government wanted a delegation to come over for the negotiations. It was anticipated that the delegation would have to visit France as well, because arrangements would have to be made with Coffracial to terminate their contract with us and if everything went well sign up with Egypt. The government nominated me to lead this delegation with Mr. Pulendiran Deputy Food Commissioner Imports; Mr. Thambipillai Director of Finance, General Treasury; and Mr. Kathiravelupillai, Head of the Foreign Currency Unit of the Bank of Ceylon, as members.
Egypt
We left on the 15th of August 1980 via Abu Dhabi and Kuwait to Cairo, where we arrived at the inconvenient hour of 11.30 p.m. We were met by Alfie David of the Foreign Service, who held a senior position in the Embassy. Ambassador Sathrakalsinghe was out of the country. We were put up in the President’s Hotel overlooking the Nile. I had a late night discussion with my team about how we should proceed. This was in addition to a discussion we had a few days before departure. We broke up late, and I got to bed at 2.30 a.m.
The next day (16), we met the First Under Secretary in the Ministry of Supply and the relevant Deputy Minister at 12.15 p.m. At this meeting we set the framework for more detailed discussions. The Egyptians knew of course that these cargoes in a sense were “distress” cargoes.
But they told us that they were not going to exploit the situation. We of course had to sel I at some discount. But it was not going to be a give away price. The Egyptian Under Secretary was so good as to say that developing countries should not exploit each other. We struck a good rapport, and they promised to call us and fix another meeting the next day.
It was a promising start. But then we ran into the inscrutable workings of an ancient civilization. There was no call the next day, and we found it difficult to get another appointment. The Egyptians were very nice and courteous, but nothing was happening. Finally, we managed to get an appointment with the Under Secretary, two days later. But when we went to the Ministry, we were politely told that he was ill, and that he would not be coming to office that day. They did not know, whether he would come the following day. We found that he was in office the next day and succeeded in getting an appointment.
But when we got there, we were politely informed that the Under Secretary had gone to pray and that they did not know what time he would come back! This was serious. We were now faced with the prospect of an indefinite stay in Egypt. Our Embassy worked hard, and another day later, we at last succeeded in fixing some important meetings. These included, higher level appointments with the Under Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister; the Minister of Supply and Internal Trade and the Deputy Minister. These meetings were followed up with a meeting with the First Under Secretary Ministry of Trade, with whom I was dealing.
They wanted me to draft the agreed minutes of the discussions and the decisions that were taken. I went to the Embassy and dictated the minutes. It was decided that we meet during the late afternoon to sign the agreed minutes. Much to our relief, this was accomplished. Lunch was possible eventually at 5 p.m. We now had a firm commitment from them to purchase the flour. A general price range was fixed, subject to further negotiation and finalization later when we return from France.
We had now to negotiate the compensation payable to the French company and the somewhat altered shipment period the Egyptians wanted. In the meantime, we had spent from the official point of view almost three fruitless days in Egypt being subject to the leisurely manner in which appointments were made and postponed.
Some Sightseeing
These three days, however, were not spent in vain, from the point of view of enhancing our education and enriching us Culturally. We went to G I ZA and saw the pyramids. The Embassy had arranged a knowledgeable person to accompany us, and we learnt a great deal. Of particular interest was the massive Cheops pyramid, 450 feet high. We learnt that it was built from 2300 blocks of limestone each weighing between 15 and 25 tons! The construction itself had been done by 100,000 workers, for a period of three months each year for 20 years. It was truly a wonder to behold. We also saw the renowned Sphinx, with the head of a man and the body of a lion, depicting, according to scholars the twin attributes of wisdom and power.
During these off days we also visited old Cairo, and the Christian monuments both Coptic and Greek orthodox. Old Churches and Synagogues were interesting sights. The area itself reminded us somewhat of the Pettah. Here, poverty was visible. It was however not a poverty of lethargy and hopelessness. The area was replete with vibrant life and activity. The narrow cobbled pathways had their own charm. Later, and away from this area, we managed to get a glimpse of the Alabaster Mosque and the AI-Azhar University. We were also taken to the Cairo Tower, reputed at the time to be the tallest building in the Arab World. From its height, one had a panoramic view of Cairo and the ever-winding river Nile.
The Nile dominates Cairo as nothing else does, its waters being life itself. Later, on our return from Paris, we had the opportunity of spending almost half a day in the Cairo museum, with its abundance of valuable ancient treasures, including the mummies. The greatest threat to some of these priceless treasures was air pollution, and there was much anxiety about this. Of considerable interest to me were the meticulous records of surveys, land transactions and other areas of administrative action of the ancient Egyptian civil service. One of the important characteristics of a civil service is its penchant for keeping records.
In this respect, clearly, we were no different to the Egyptians of 5000 years ago. Finally, before we returned home we managed to do the 86 mile dash to Port Said and the Suez Canal. This took us much of the way on a desert road. It was a sight to see at close quarters, convoys of ships entering the canal, and listen to the powerful throbs of their engines. What we saw was an unending line of ships of different kinds and sizes. Cargo vessels, tankers, car carriers and other types one following the other at a given distance in an almost endless queue. You cannot imagine an operation like that unless you see it.
(To be continued)
(Excerpted from In the Pursuit of Governance, autobiography of MDD Pieris) ✍️
At a time when Sri Lanka’s foreign policy is coming under intense scrutiny by some local sections it is only right that impartial and independent commentators shed some clarity on what fundamental foreign policy directions Sri Lanka ought to take. The extremely fluid and complex nature of current international politics renders such an understanding crucially important.
Given its vulnerabilities in a number of spheres Sri Lanka has no choice but to persist in broadly following the path of Non-alignment. That is, it should be ‘a friend of all and an enemy of none’, to the extent possible. However, it does not follow that in the process it could compromise what is seen as its national interest.
The latter point needs stressing against the backdrop of the criticisms the Sri Lankan government has been attracting from some quarters over what is made out to be some opaqueness in security and defence cooperation agreements it has entered into with India. It remains advisable for the Sri Lankan government to enter into pacts of this nature with India, but the government is obliged to disclose the contents of these agreements to the Sri Lankan people without undue delay in consideration of the uncompromisable sovereign rights of a people in a democracy.
However, there is no denying that the government should make it a central foreign policy premise to always work in cooperation with India. A consideration of what it cost Sri Lanka in the past to be in a disharmonious relationship with India and how such policy missteps worked against Sri Lanka’s best interests ought to dictate to Sri Lanka the advisability of maintaining uninterrupted cordial ties with India. Moreover, common sense ought to drive home to a country the costs of being at loggerheads with one’s closest neighbour who has also proved a ‘ready friend in deed.’
That said, it is the bounden duty of Sri Lanka’s diplomatic community or establishment to ensure that such cooperation does not degenerate into a policy of subservience towards India. That is, finesse and farsightedness in local diplomacy become prime requirements.
While India’s geographical location and physical size, besides her other strengths, contribute towards her centrality in regional and world affairs, her neighbours would be thinking and acting far-sightedly if they not only focus on India and her legitimate interests but also ensure continuous friction-free intra-South Asian relations. That is, for them collective South Asian well being should be of fundamental importance.
Much more than for India perhaps, such harmonious ties are of inestimable importance to India’s neigbours who are up against multiple vulnerabilities which are to a great extent regionally rooted. The latter could never, that is, afford to take their minds off the region’s collective development prospects.
The above are some of the reasons why it could prove highly counter-productive and self-defeating for the ‘South Asian Eight’ to render dormant and ineffective the historic SAARC organization. Rather than ‘dead’ SAARC has been allowed to drift into the ‘Limbo of Forgotten Things.’
The growing inter-dependence of the ‘SAARC Eight’ ought to impress on the collectivity the need to step-up regional cooperation in multiple areas which impinge on its members’ legitimate interests. For instance, the youth-led ‘Cockroach’ revolts, first in India and subsequently outside, should convince South Asia that it is continuing to be plagued in a major way by poverty and equity-linked issues. That is, West-inspired, largely market economics-dictated ways to see an end to poverty are simply not working completely.
Likewise climate-related questions are ravaging South Asia in unimaginable ways; Nepal being just one case in point. The rationale for regional cooperation remains valid and undefeated. It is time for revived and stepped-up SAARC cooperation. That is, the solutions to the region’s development dilemmas need to be found in mainly the region.
This amounts to making a case for a continued sense of ‘Southasianness’ among the SAARC countries. That is the conviction should be firm that they know their developmental challenges best and that answers to these issues must be primarily evolved by the grouping itself in cooperation with concerned sections.
From the above viewpoints the Regional Centre for Strategic Studies (RCSS), Colombo did very well to tie-up with the South Asian University (SAU), India, to increase public awareness on the developmental problems affecting South Asia and for initiating a number collaborative measures that aim at ameliorating them. The relevant agreement was formalized in early September at the RCSS. The sealing of the pact took place under the aegis of SAU President Prof. K.K. Aggarwal and RCSS Executive Director Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha.
A press release issued by the organizations said the collaboration aims ‘to foster research networks, partnerships and collaborations for transformative change across South Asia.’ It also mentioned that the partnership marked the first agreement to be signed by SAU with an independent think tank in Sri Lanka.
Among other things, pacts such as the above are bold moves in the direction of fostering a spirit of intellectual independence in those areas of the South facing some of the stiffest developmental challenges. Rather than ‘import’ solutions to these challenges from outside the region, the SAU-RCSS initiative aims at fostering fresh approaches to evolving solutions to problems that are uniquely South Asian.
It is hoped that the SAU and RCSS initiative while leading a to a greater degree of Southern intellectual independence in the area of development thinking would also help in kick-starting the SAARC process all over again in a major way.
What ought to lend fresh urgency to the latter undertakings are fast-breaking current developments in international politics. It ought to be perceived by the most underdeveloped regions of the South that going forward their well being would matter least or not at all to the major powers of both East and West.
For example at the time of writing the foremost among US and Chinese political leaders are meeting in the US in what is made out to be a historic coming together of sorts to address issues of common concern. It is highly unlikely that the parties would be addressing the economic preoccupations of the least developed countries. The same goes for other states that matter from the East and West.
Essentially, the US and China would be looking at ways of strengthening business ties that matter majorly for them. The South and its issues would prove to be of peripheral interest, if at all they happen to matter to the protagonists. Such developments ought to be fresh reminders to the South and their collaborative organizations that there is no escaping self-help and joint solidarity.
by Prof. M.W. Amarasiri de Silva
Adult literacy has for a long time been one of Sri Lanka’s greatest sources of pride, serving as a social indicator that has set the country apart from several of its neighbours in the region. For many years Sri Lanka has been recognised for keeping its literacy rates at a level like those of middle-income countries and even some high-income ones, even though it has faced economic difficulties and political instability. However, since new global research has now shown an unexpected and concerning decline in adult literacy in several high-income countries, it is important to consider what this means for Sri Lanka.
The phenomenon described by Jishnu Das, Yash Dhuldhoya and Ethan Sager, the unexplained fall in functional literacy among adults in wealthy nations. calls for a more thorough examination of the nature of literacy, the pressures exerted by the modern information environment, and the vulnerabilities that Sri Lanka might encounter as it moves towards a more digital, ageing and complex society. Even though Sri Lanka’s basic literacy rates remain high and steady, the global trend acts as a warning that literacy is not a fixed accomplishment but a dynamic capability which must be continually fostered, safeguarded and adapted to changing circumstances.
Decline in functional literacy
The drop in literacy rate in high-income countries is not due to people losing the ability to read or write in the ordinary way. On the contrary, it reflects a decline in functional literacy, which is the capacity to deal with, understand, and apply information in real-life situations. This kind of literacy involves following instructions, comprehending official documents, using digital interfaces, interpreting medical information, and making sense of complicated texts that demand continuous attention.
Researchers stress that the decline cannot be attributed merely to disruptions caused by COVID-19 or the increasing use of smartphones; instead, there is going on something more fundamental: a weakening of the cognitive and informational bases that adults need to function properly in modern society. In countries such as the United States, the percentage of adults regarded as functionally illiterate has increased significantly, indicating that even highly educated societies are having difficulty in keeping up the skills required to handle ever more complex streams of information.
Sri Lanka immune?
At first sight, Sri Lanka seems to be immune from this trend. The country’s adult literacy rate is still above 92 per cent and youth literacy is even higher. According to the 2024 Census, literacy rates exceed 97 per cent among people aged ten and over, with nearly equal levels between the sexes. These figures show the continued strength of Sri Lanka’s system of free education, a system which in the past has guaranteed widespread access to school and has produced generation after generation of citizens who could read and write at a basic level.
There has also been a steady improvement in educational attainment, with an increasing number of adults finishing secondary education and a larger proportion going on to tertiary institutions. Unlike the mysterious drops observed in rich countries, Sri Lanka’s literacy figures demonstrate stability and even a slight improvement.
However, although the surface appearance is reassuring, an even more complicated reality exists. The literacy figures for Sri Lanka only record basic literacy, that is, the ability to read and write simple sentences, and they do not include measures of functional literacy. It is impossible to tell from these statistics whether adults can interpret a bank statement, understand a medical prescription, use an online government portal, or critically assess information that is spreading on social media. As is shown by the global trend, having a high level of basic literacy does not ensure a strong degree of functional literacy. On the contrary, functional literacy can fall even if basic literacy stays the same. This difference is important for Sri Lanka, particularly since the country is currently experiencing rapid digitalization, demographic ageing, and social change.
Major risk factor
A major risk factor is the move towards digital information environments. In high-income countries, researchers believe that the prevalence of smartphones and short-form digital content may be diminishing people’s ability to engage in deep reading. Nowadays, individuals take in information in short, rapid segments by scrolling through social media feeds, quickly reading headlines, and viewing short videos. Such behaviour decreases the opportunity for sustained reading, which is necessary for keeping comprehension, critical thinking, and the capacity to deal with complex information intact.
Sri Lanka is going through a comparable change. There has been a sharp increase in the number of people using smartphones, and social media sites have become the main sources of news, leisure, and communication. Although there are many advantages to having digital access, it also results in a situation where superficial reading becomes the standard approach and could therefore lead to a decline in functional literacy over time.
Demographic ageing as challenge
A further challenge that is coming up is demographic ageing. Sri Lanka is rapidly moving towards becoming an ageing society, with an increasing number of older people who might experience cognitive decline, have less exposure to new information, and enjoy few opportunities for further learning. In high-income countries, ageing populations have led to a fall in functional literacy since older individuals have had difficulty adapting to digital systems and complicated bureaucratic procedures.
The older generation in Sri Lanka, many whom were educated many decades ago under different curriculum standards, could end up becoming increasingly vulnerable in a world in which essential services, such as banking and healthcare, are being moved online. If appropriate support is not provided, the country may witness a growing gap between basic literacy and functional literacy among older adults.
In Sri Lanka, the way in which administration and the workplace are organised has in the past placed greater trust in personal communication and on basic forms of documentation. What in high-income countries would require complex reading is instead carried out through face-to-face contact in Sri Lanka. Nevertheless, this situation is now changing. Government services are becoming available online, banks are introducing digital systems, and in workplaces there is an increasing need for employees to use electronic systems. Since these changes are happening at a faster rate, the demand for functional literacy will increase. Should adults not be able to meet these new demands, Sri Lanka might start to see the kind of decline in literacy that has been seen in other places.
Misinformation and disinformation
Another worry is the spread of misinformation and disinformation. In Sri Lanka, there has already been the quick dissemination of false information via social media, with this having an impact on public health, politics, and social cohesion. Since functional literacy is essential for allowing people to assess sources, doubt the claims made, and tell the difference between reliable information and falsehoods, a lack of functional literacy causes societies to be more open to manipulation, polarisation, and confusion.
The fact that there has been a global drop in functional literacy at the same time as misinformation has increased points to a dangerous feedback cycle: when literacy is low people become more prone to misinformation, and the misinformation in turn damages their ability to think critically about information. Given that the country has a high level of social media use and a lack of digital literacy training, Sri Lanka should take this risk seriously.
Even though there are these risks, Sri Lanka has several advantages which can assist in avoiding a drop in functional literacy. The country’s system of basic education is still strong, showing high enrolment figures and good results in basic literacy.
Families in Sri Lanka still place a great deal of importance on education and reading is still a respected cultural activity. Furthermore, because of its relatively small size and the fact that it has a centralized form of government, it is more efficient than in bigger countries to carry out nationwide literacy campaigns. These strengths offer a firm basis for developing new strategies for protecting and improving functional literacy.
Literacy a process
It should be realised by Sri Lanka that attaining literacy is not a single accomplishment achieved in childhood. In the modern world, literacy must be a skill that is constantly put into practice, kept up to date and adapted to changing circumstances. The fact that adult literacy is declining worldwide shows that even in wealthy countries with well-developed education systems deterioration can occur if adults are not supported in keeping their cognitive and informational abilities. Sri Lanka cannot afford to be careless.
It is necessary for the country to invest in adult education, in programmes concerning digital literacy and in the development of cognitive skills for all age groups. It also needs to establish ways of measuring functional literacy rather than just basic literacy so that policymakers can detect emerging weaknesses and act in advance.
A vital measure is to increase the opportunities for adult learning. Although Sri Lanka has effective literacy programmes based in schools, the country’s infrastructure for adult education is limited. Community centres, libraries, universities, and vocational institutes should take on a more significant role by providing courses, workshops, and reading programmes which are tailored for adults. The programmes should place an emphasis not just on reading and writing but also on digital navigation, critical thinking, and information processing. Adults should be given the chance to practise the skills that are necessary for them to function effectively in a rapidly changing world.
Importance of digital literacy programmes
It is just as important to have digital literacy programmes. Since an increasing number of services are being offered online, adults need to learn how to use digital tools with confidence and in a safe manner. This involves knowing how to fill out online forms, moving around on government websites, using banking apps, and being able to spot misinformation. The digital literacy courses available should be accessible, affordable, and adapted to different age groups, especially older adults who might feel put off by technology. Schools can also contribute by incorporating digital literacy into their curriculum so that future generations acquire good functional literacy skills from an early age.
Sri Lanka should also investigate introducing policies which promote cognitive health among older people. Since cognitive decline can lead to a deterioration of functional literacy, it becomes more difficult for older individuals to deal with information. It is possible to help keep cognitive function by setting up programmes that promote reading, social interaction, physical activity, and continued learning. During regular medical visits, healthcare professionals should include cognitive assessments so that any problems affecting literacy-related skills can be picked up early.
Sri Lanka needs to create tools for measuring functional literacy, since the figures available on basic literacy give an incomplete account of the country’s capabilities. By using assessments of functional literacy like those employed in high-income countries, Sri Lanka would be able to monitor how well its adults can apply their literacy skills in real-life situations.
The World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) is known globally as the Olympics of performing arts, but Sri Lankans came to know of it more closely when Natharie Wickramasinghe, representing Team Sri Lanka at WCOPA 2026, in Las Vegas, earned a Bronze Medal in the Ethnic/Folklore Dance category.
Behind Sri Lanka’s WCOPA journey is Sri Lanka-born Chris Rajendra, who migrated to the United States in 2007, and deserves special congratulations.
Passionate about discovering and promoting talent, Chris has been actively involved in the pageant and performing arts, industry since 2002.
A major milestone came in 2015, when he introduced WCOPA, to Sri Lanka, for the first time, creating an international platform for Sri Lankan performers.
Sachini Ayendra became the very first candidate to represent Sri Lanka at WCOPA, in 2015, marking the beginning of Team Sri Lanka’s journey.
Chris served as National Director for Team Sri Lanka from 2015 to 2018, and has returned to the role for the 2026–2027 term, continuing his commitment to identifying, developing and promoting Sri Lankan talent internationally.
His involvement in pageantry and performing arts includes:
Recruiter, Miss Nevada United States – 2014
Chris Rajendra: National Director – WCOPA Team Sri Lanka
Manager, Miss Colombia Las Vegas – 2013 to 2017
Director for the West Coast and International Divisions of Ms. Latina International and Ms. International World – 2017
National Director for Team Sri Lanka – WCOPA, 2015–2018 and 2026–2027
Co-National Director for Team USA – WCOPA 2026
In the USA, Chris began his career in retail before transitioning into insurance and financial services, where he built extensive experience in sales, marketing, leadership and business development.
He owned and operated a brokerage, affiliated with multiple insurance companies, and later served as Marketing Director with Transamerica and World Financial Group.
As his business expanded across Las Vegas and California, he continued to hone his expertise in sales, marketing and client relations. He now works as a Sales Executive at Hilton Grand Vacations.
Looking ahead, Chris will shortly launch the application process for Team Sri Lanka 2027, giving talented Sri Lankan performers another opportunity to represent the country on the world stage.
The 2027 World Championships of Performing Arts will take place in Las Vegas, USA, in July or August 2027.
Through his work in both the corporate and performing arts worlds, Chris Rajendra continues to combine leadership, networking and talent development — creating opportunities for Sri Lankan performers to showcase their abilities on a global platform.
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