The Centenary Movement, launched on 4 February 2021 on Sri Lanka’s 73rd Independence Day, is a coalition of young Sri Lankan professionals from across the nation, striving to ensure that Sri Lanka can celebrate 100 years of Independence in 2048 as a “united, prosperous, just, and thriving nation”; a nation that would be a model to the world of incredible national transformation by Sri Lanka’s centenary of independence. Casting a vision for Sri Lanka at 100 years of independence and seeking to inspire, empower, and build a platform for a new generation of leaders to take our country to that vision.
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Centenary Movement Director Prashan De Visser[/caption]
Since its initiation, the Centenary Movement has gone on to do just as they set out and Brunch reached out to Centenary Movement Director Prashan De Visser, who shared with us what the movement has been up to since their incredibly ambitious yet much-needed project was first launched.
De Visser shared that the movement, which is led by a board of directors, advised by eminent Sri Lankan leaders, is also supported by a core team of 50 young professionals has a very clear vision of producing leaders of character, compassion, competence, and clarity of vision, and they’ve set in motion their long-term vision of a 27-year journey.
Most notable of the numerous initiatives is the Centenary Academy; with an annual intake of aspiring politicians and public servants, the Academy provides an innovative 52-week, 700-hour course, training the cohort on the theory, practice, and strategy in effective political leadership.
De Visser shared that they received over 500 applicants to join the movement and cohort in less than three months since the website went live, and with hundreds of individuals who were willing to make a daunting commitment to join the academy, the Top 70 applicants were selected to the main cohort.
The academy’s first cohort will graduate on 4 February 2022, and Prashan stated that they will be announcing a new cohort on the same day and applications for the second cohort will be open by 1 November 2021 on their website.
He said that they’ve been astounded by the caliber of young professionals from across the nation, representing all 25 Districts and from various professions: doctors, engineers, pilots, activists, lawyers, academics, social workers, chess FIDE masters, and authors. They’ve also included Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, Burghers, and Malays. “Men and women in greater representation than our current political reality; Sri Lankans from the North, South, West, East, to the Diaspora in every continent, strangers just months ago, today, we are building a community, a team, and a family,” he said.
The individuals representing these diverse backgrounds have brought their passion, knowledge, and commitment to invest in their generation and generations of Sri Lankan leaders to follow. And in turn, they are guided by mentors who support and hold the cohort accountable to lead and serve their communities.
“Our paths have merged in our common pursuit to transform Sri Lanka,” said De Visser, adding: “We strive to be that generation that dares to dream a bold vision, and work to realise the dream day in and day out, for the next three decades towards our Centenary and onwards.”
The movement lays focus on six policy areas, and works to educate the public on key areas of reform and its importance for progress and development as a nation. Adopting a three-pronged approach of: Training and mentoring emerging political leaders; educating and shifting public opinion on key policy issues and the need for change in political culture; and reviewing current structures of governance, reasons for stagnation and failure, and identifying International models of change that can be contextualised.
De Visser noted that in their journey through the movement, what they’ve come to realise is that Sri Lanka has ample talented young leaders, whose potential we must harness. He said that if people were to break away from the political slavery to political families, parties that have embodied failure for 73 years, we can build a nation we can all be proud of. Capable Sri Lankans who have been privileged in life to have the option to leave the country need to stay and serve “as we simply cannot afford to lose heart, we have to stay, serve, and work till we see transformation”.
He also said that short-term goals of election cycles and getting elected will not transform Sri Lanka: “You cannot undo 73 years of broken structures and cycles of violence overnight, what we need is to build a foundation for long-term transformation. And so, the Centenary Movement has set in motion what would potentially be the birthplace of a new generation of leaders entering into politics, a new breed of politicians who have a clarity of vision, deep sense of values and character, compassion and commitment to the people they serve, and are competent to bring about meaningful impact and transformation.”
Website: www.100.lk
Youtube: Centenary Movement