For the first time in Sri Lanka, Young Global Leaders event of the World Economic Forum was held from February 16-18, 2016.

The event was a great success according to the participants. There were 30 Young Global Leaders who participated from South Asian countries for this event, the South Asia Bridge Initiative (SABI). The conference was focused on improving and strengthening relationship among South Asian countries and implementing action-oriented initiatives to uplift the lives of less privileged in the region. 

During the visit they interacted with Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe. The interaction was moderated by Asanga Abeyagoonasekera, the Young Global Leader from Sri Lanka, who organised the event.  Young Global Leaders congratulated on the new economic reforms introduced by the Prime Minister and discussed economic and political challenges of the country and the region. During the discussion, a Young Global Leaders Advisory Council to assist Prime Minister 
was initiated.

The Young Global Leaders was invited to the Finance Ministry by Minister Ravi Karunanayaka and they also visited the Defence Ministry for an interaction with Defence Secretary Karunasena Hettiarachi and other distinguished military officers to understand the post-conflict challenges of the country. They also visited the Chamber of Commerce and participated in a cultural evening arranged by the Tourism Ministry.  Young Global Leaders include world’s top individuals from all walks of life which include Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergei Brin, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, Leonardo Di Caprio, Anderson Cooper, Farhan Akhtar, Queen Mathilde of Belgium, Lera Auerbach, Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, Prime Minister David Cameron, Enrique Peña Nieto President of Mexico and many more from diverse fields 
of expertise.