Anoka Primrose Abeyrathne

Abeyrathne completed her primary and secondary education at Bishop's College.[4] She holds an LLB from the University of London and a master's degree in development from the University of Colombo.[5] She is currently pursuing higher studies at the University of Cambridge.[6]

When the 2004 tsunami struck Sri Lanka Abeyrathne, then 13, started volunteering to improve the local environment by planting mangrove trees. Later she co-founded the organisation Sustain Solutions to run the Growin' Money mangrove tree project.[7] Growin' Money provided families the opportunity to gain an income through handicrafts, organic farming, and eco-tourism, along with offering access to education and skills training.[4] The organization has replanted over 60,000 Mangrove trees in over 5 countries while training over 50000 women and youth over 10 years[8].[9][10]

Anoka initiated Sri Lanka's most signed petition to revive and advocate for the stagnant Animal Welfare Bill with over 126,000 signatures from citizens and organisations concerned about animal welfare in Sri Lanka.[11][12]

Abeyrathne has trained and mentored over 3,000 youth and women as environmentalists and social entrepreneurs.[2]

In 2020, she delivered the keynote address to mark the International Women's Day 2020 and rang the opening bell of the Colombo Stock Exchange.[2][3] She was featured in the Cosmopolitan Magazine Sri Lanka's inaugural 35 under 35 list and is Sri Lanka's first female World Economic Forum New Champion[13]. lit In 2019, Abeyrathne appeared in a list of "Iconic Sri Lankan Women Who Have Shaped History".[14] She received the Commonwealth Youth Award in March 2013.[15] In August 2019, Abeyrathne became the first Sri Lankan to be featured in the EE 30 Under 30 list by the North American Association for Environmental Education.[16] Abeyrathne also featured on the Forbes 30 under 30 list.[17] She served as one of the 12 shapers on the United Nations–World Economic Forum Sustainable Development Council working towards mainstreaming sustainability, and is the first female New Champion of the World Economic Forum in Sri Lanka.[18] Abeyratne delivered the keynote speech at the Youth Leaders Forum, Commonwealth Asia Youth Ministers Meeting.[19] She was elected to the Asia-Pacific region to the UN Habitat Global Youth Advisory Board [20] and to the Commonwealth Climate Leadership Team as the Policy and Advocacy representative.[21]

Being the youngest panelist on Sri Lanka's first Social Innovation Forum[22] and the Commonwealth Women's Affairs Ministerial Meeting,[23] she gave a keynote speech at the Youth Leaders Forum, Commonwealth Asia Region Youth Ministers Meeting 2015.[19] Abeyrathne continues engagement in disaster management and sustainability analysis under the auspices of the Institute of National Security Studies Sri Lanka – Ministry of Defence (Sri Lanka).[24] Abeyrathne received a World Youth award in 2017 for her contribution to youth and sustainability.[25] and she was a 2010 British Council International Climate Champion.[26][27]

• Official website