The most exciting and biggest entrepreneurial event of the era, the “Youth Entrepreneurship Summit 2019”, concluded successfully on the 17th of February 2019 at Trace Expert City with the designation of the next best entrepreneur who unveiled the most outstanding and innovative business approach. The project was organized by the Rotaract Club of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Battaramulla with the intention of devising an extensive platform for young aspirant entrepreneurs to proclaim their unrivalled business ideas and to bring out the true entrepreneurial spirit of the energetic youth of Sri Lanka.

This venture set forth as the signature project of the Rotaract Club of University of Sri Jayewardenepura for the year 2018-19 on the theme “Be empowered, To empower” which also collaborates hand in hand with the Rotary International theme “Be the Inspiration” and the Rotary District 3220 theme Inspire the Future”. YES ’19 was engineered to be conducted under three main phases open to the youth below the age of 30 years. The first phase being the online report submission, where out of 83 registrations 50 plus business reports were submitted which were then shortlisted to select 13 finest contestants for the 2nd phase.

On January 2019 at The Business Hubs, Nugegoda. Four esteemed businessmen namely,

● Lahiru Pathmalal – CEO at Takas (Pvt) Ltd

● Aloka Gunasekara – Program Manager at StartupX Foundry

● Michael Moonesinghe – CEO at Glover Daniels International

● Dinuka Solangarachchi – CEO at Now You See Me

Who are tycoons in the field of business enriched this occasion with their presence and shared their insights with the participants to help them  meliorate their dexterity and knowledge required to be the next best entrepreneur, through a series of interactive sessions. The third and the final phase of the project was the “Business Summit and Trade Show” which took place at the Trace Expert City, Colombo on the 17th of February 2019. The 6 finalists who paved their way to the grandest stage of them all and their respective business ideas were as follows;

The next phase was carried out under the name, “Business Insider” on the 27th

Monali Wijekoon – 100% Organic Manure

Jed Asela – Passenger Transportation and Courier

Ishini Kuruppu – AESIR & VANIR (Street Clothes

Dhammika Tharindu- Siththama (Arts)

Rishan Dulanjana – Rish Lanka (Jackfruit Products)

Pavani Wasana – Smart Lender

The event was graced by five exceptional individuals or whom you could consider as

connoisseurs of the field;

Mr. Rohan Pallewaththa, the Executive Chairman of Lanka Harness Co. (Pvt) Ltd.

Mr. Shiraz Latiff, Chairman of Consulus Global Singapore and Director CEO of Hummingbird International, Colombo

Mr. Asitha Pinnaduwa, Banker, Leadership Consultant and World Award Winner for Community Service

Mrs. Sulochana Segera, Founder/Chairperson of Women in Management Sri Lanka/Maldives/Canada

Mr. Heminda Jayaweera, Co-founder of Thuru.lk

who conducted guest speeches on their pertinent domains of expertise while trailblazing an interactive session and were also the adjudicators of the Grand Finale of YES ’19.  They were handed over with the arduous task of nominating the nonpareil innovator out of the six finalists, the best entrepreneur who had what it takes. After an intense competition among the contenders, the judges were finally able to arrive to a decision based on the marks allocated for the individual business pitches manifested by each finalist.

The ultimate retriever of the throne for the Most Outstanding Entrepreneur of the Youth Entrepreneurship Summit 2019 was hence declared to be Monali Wjekoon from the University of Colombo, Faculty of Law for her business concept of 100% Organic Manure. The first and second runner-up were Ishini Kuruppu of the National School of Business Management (NSBM – Green University) and Dhammika Tharindu from the University of Kelaniya respectively. The Most Popular Entrepreneur award was bagged by Pavani Wasana corresponding with the highest number votes claimed via the online competition conducted in collaboration with the summit.

The winner of YES 2019, Monali Wijekoon was presented with a cash price while all the finalists were offered a scholarship by “You Lead” to sharpen their business and leadership skills. All competitors were given the opportunity to have one on one discussions with existing entrepreneurs of the field. This insightful event was made possible with the support of our sponsors Lanka Hareness Co. and Ltd , Frimi, Commercial bank, Sansudi fashion, Ceylon Agri Ventures, Bansons and Yanndel.com.

Hence, YES 2019 came to its terminus with the crowning of the best entrepreneur of the summit who put all limits to test and vanquished all obstructions while inculcating thoughts of both vicissitude and fortitude in the minds of the youth who partook in this venture, who will one day lead this nation to be the nerve center of innovation and entrepreneurship.

Stay tuned with The Rotaract Club of University of Sri Jayewardenepura to host YES 2020