• Akesh Munasinghe’s life in pageantry 

For Akesh Munasinghe, modeling is more than just a profession but  a passion and a lifestyle. A 27-year-old Sri Lankan model with a strong interest in fashion, fitness, and healthy living, Akesh began his modeling journey approximately one and a half years ago after graduating from Model with Ruki Model Academy & Model Agency.

Through modeling, he discovered a passion for the world of pageantry and the opportunities it creates to grow, represent and inspire. Today, Akesh is the current Mr Sri Lanka, proudly representing his country on the international stage at Mister Cosmopolitan 2026 in Vietnam.

For Akesh, pageantry goes beyond appearance, titles and the stage. It is a platform to develop confidence, discipline, character, and purpose while representing his country with pride. He hopes to use his journey in modeling and pageantry to inspire young people to believe in themselves, pursue their passions, and become the best versions of themselves.

With aspirations of becoming a successful international model and building his own gem business in the future, Akesh sees modeling and pageantry as important stepping stones in his journey. His ultimate goal is to make his country proud, create a positive impact, and use every opportunity to give back to his community.

Akesh sat down with The Daily Morning Brunch to talk about the life and livelihood behind the spotlight as well as exploring his hopes and aspirations for the future. 

The following are excerpts of the interview:

Could you tell us a bit about yourself and why you got into pageantry? 

My name is Akesh Munasinghe and I’m 27 years old. I went to Lyceum International School. 

I have a Diploma in Business Management from Australian College of Business and Technology (ACBT) however I followed a modeling course conducted by Model with Ruki – model academy & model agency and successfully graduated, becoming a professional model who can represent his country. 

I'm also pursuing a qualification in gemology. 

The reason I got into pageantry is because I’m very passionate about fashion  and fitness and it is part of my lifestyle. I also like living a healthy lifestyle which led me into pursuing modeling for almost one and a half years. 

My interest in fitness contributed to my interest in pageantry.  I want to do something bigger than focusing on myself and hopefully give back to my community in any way that I can be of help and I believe this could be my path towards that.

What do pageants mean to you and why is it important in the modern day?

A pageant is not just a title but it is an opportunity for me to be a part of and represent something much bigger than myself. I would love to bring pride and honor  to my country through the recognition I achieved and will continue to achieve through this pageant. 

I could also find a way to give back to my community by being an inspiration to the youth and promote positivity and growth for young Sri Lankans to follow their dreams. I would like to inspire them to build their sense of self belief and confidence to be the best and most productive version of themselves.

I think encouraging the youth of the twenty- first century and being a good role model to young people is very important as this is what will contribute towards growth in our community and country . I believe that pageantry does open up a gateway towards this improvement. 

So it gives me great pride and honour and also gives me a purpose that I might actually be able to give something back to my community and raise the flag of my country as high as I can. 

I’m currently competing at Mister Cosmopolitan 2026 in Vietnam. It takes place from the 4 to the 14 September. I am the current Mr Sri Lanka and I am excited to be representing my country at the international stage in Vietnam at Mister Cosmopolitan 2026.

Do you have any advice for other young men who are considering this professionally?

My advice is if you are really passionate about something don’t think or worry too much and follow your passion and give your dreams everything you can. Don’t ever let negativity cloud your mind and keep you away from the path of pursuing whatever passion you may have. 

What are your plans for the future?

So my plans for my career are to be a professional model in the international arena and to own my own successful gem business.

As for what I could to do my community, I want to give back in anyway that I can, contribute to charitable causes and also by being a good role model towards the youth, even if i could inspire a few youngsters towards the right direction, it would definitely cause a positive chain of events in long term towards the betterment of our community and the country.