The Oxford University Society of Sri Lanka (OUS Sri Lanka) has announced the election of its new leadership team at its recent Annual General Meeting. Umayanga Nanayakkara will take the helm as President, with Sanjaya Ariyawansa serving as Vice President.The Society also expressed its gratitude to outgoing President, Rishan De Silva.
Centre – Umayanga Nanayakkara, Sanjaya Ariyawansa, Insaf Bakeer Markar
Standing – Rishan De Silva, Praveena Joseph De Saram, Ashok Ferrey, Neluka Silva, Hiran Embuldeniya
The 2025-2026 committee comprises a diverse and accomplished group:
= President: Umayanga Nanayakkara
= Vice President: Sanjaya Ariyawansa
= Secretary: Insaf Bakeer Markar
= Treasurer: Hiran Embuldeniya
= Impact: Praveen Joseph De Saram
= Engagement: Rishan De Silva
= Alumni Relations: Shathuki Perera and Nishen de Silva
= Committee Members: Neluka Silva and Ashok Ferrey
Inspired by the remarkable legacy of Sri Lanka’s leading figures – from political giants like S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, Lalith Athulathmudali, and Lakshman Kadirgamar to distinguished academic pioneers – OUS Sri Lanka is committed to driving excellence forward. Our newly elected committee will amplify this heritage, spark innovation, and deepen the connections within our Oxford alumni network.
Igniting Potential: A Vision for Tomorrow
The OUS Sri Lanka committee has achieved success with its flagship event, “Applying to Oxford?”. “We’ve witnessed a surge in applications from diverse backgrounds helping students to successfully gain admission to Oxford,” says President Umayanga Nanayakkara. “Our hope is that these brilliant minds will return to contribute significantly to Sri Lanka’s development.”
Umayanga, a law graduate has completed the Foundations of Diplomacy, the Oxford Foreign Service Program and a Masters in South Asian Studies based out of St Anthony’s College.
He is currently a Director at AGC Innovate driving green innovation which pioneered Sri Lanka’s first plastic modified asphalt road winning multiple awards. Looking ahead, the agenda for 2025/26 includes a year of learning events, intellectual exchanges, cross-organizational partnerships, literary evenings and strengthened regional collaborations.
Vice President Sanjaya Ariyawansa, a seasoned economist, brings a wealth of expertise as Senior Economist at the Economic Intelligence Unit of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and a visiting lecturer at the University of Moratuwa.
His impressive career spans roles at the Parliamentary Committee on Public Finance, World Bank consultancy, and research at the University of Oxford. Sanjaya holds an MSc in Economics from Oxford, a first-class BSc in Mathematics from the University of Colombo, and CIMA (UK) qualifications.
Connecting the Global Network: Engaging Our Alumni
The new committee is committed to cultivating a vibrant and dynamic alumni community. Oxford Alumni interested in learning more about OUS Sri Lanka and its activities are encouraged to contact the society via email on [email protected], [email protected], [email protected].
