The grassroots concerns of marginalised rural youth in the Kandy District were elevated directly to the highest levels of Sri Lanka’s Buddhist spiritual leadership.

The process began with inclusive youth dialogues across ethnically and religiously diverse communities in Hunnasgiriya, Heeloya and Teldeniya in Kandy where young people articulated barriers to social inclusion and unity. These insights were formally compiled and presented to an assembly of the nation’s most respected religious leaders headed by Most Venerable Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Thero, Mahanayaka Thero of the Asgiriya Chapter, alongside other senior prelates including Most Venerable Dr. Niyangoda Dharmakeerthi Sri Sangarakkitha Vijithasiri Thero, Anunayake Thero of the Malwathu Chapter and Venerable Wedaruwe Upali Thero Anunayake Thero of the Asgiriya Chapter, among others.

This direct engagement not only legitimised youth perspectives within a revered institutional framework but also secured high level moral and spiritual endorsement for fostering inter-ethnic and inter-religious harmony. By bridging community voices with the authority of the Mahanayaka Thero and senior clergy, this initiative demonstrates a powerful model of advocacy where spiritual leadership is mobilised to amplify inclusion, validate grassroots experiences and strengthen the national commitment to unity and social cohesion.