The India Srilanka Youth  Exchange Program was initiated by Audacious Dreams Foundation, Vellore. Students from Auxilium College, VIT and Jamal Mohamed College took part in the program. Mr.Dinesh Gajendran,  catalyst, executive director, Audacious Dreams Foundation and Ms.Amutha Arockiya Mary, professor, Auxilum College Vellore are the coordinators for the program.

The Indian delegates reached Colombo Airport at 12.30 pm, after which, they were taken to the National Youth Service Council for Lunch and Stay. After lunch, the delegates had an energetic ice breaker and team building activity, which was conducted by Mr.Ravi, a member of the National Youth Service Council. The session was a successful and a wonderful one.

On 12^th September, the delegates visited the Pinnawala Elephant orphanage at 10 am. Everyone admired at the vast surrounding and the most skilful elephants that were present. At 1 pm, they had a networking lunch with Dr.Keeragala, Additional secretary of Ministry of National Policies and Economic Affairs, Government of Srilanka. After the networking lunch, the delegates started to the Temple of Tooth, Kandy. They were told the entire history and the special features of the wonderful temple. After the temple visit, the delegates were divided into pairs and were allocated with different families for home stay. Every pair went to a different family and stayed with them for a night. This motivated the cultural and social understanding.

The day 3 started with the return of the Indian delegates to the youth council from their home stay at Kandy, at 8.30 am. The delegates were treated so kindly and were given much importance by the Srilankan families, who adopted them. The hospitality provided by the new family and the experience of the delegates was shared with everyone. The visit of day 3 was to the Riverston falls, Mathale district at 1.30 pm. The abundant beauty of nature was experienced and admired. After spending a few hours in the falls, they started at 5 pm, and, on their way, they had their lunch at a restaurant at 6 pm and reached the National Youth Service Council.

The delegates started from the National Youth Service Council at 8.30 am and reacged the Ceylon German Technical Institute, which is working since 1960. The delegates had a short interaction with the chief engineer, and came to know the special features of the institute. They even visited the labs, where the students were working on their projects. The development of technology had been clearly understood in the visit, as there were so many amazing and innovative machineries, that were used to produce goods. Ms.Janet and Ms.Jane shared their feedback, at the end of the visit. At 12.30 pm, the delegates returned to the National Youth Service Council for lunch. After lunch, at 2.30 pm, they visited Sarvodaya, which is one of the leading organizations and had a long and great interaction with Mr.Bandhula Senadeera, Director, International Division. He explained the various social activities, in which Sarvodaya is engaged with, which inspired everyone. Ms.Sangeethaa expressed her gratitude to the director, at the end of the session. After the interaction, they met Mr.A.T.Ariyaratne, Chancellor, Founder of Sarvodaya and visited the place, wher the babies of below 3 years of age are being bought up. At 5 pm, the delegates started to Mount. Lavinia beach, and had their refreshing time. At 7.45 pm, they returned to the National Youth Service Council for dinner. The day 4 was a day well spent, with a mixture of  both knowledge skills and entertainment.

The next day, the delegates visited Nalanda College, the leading Educational institute in Srilanka, being run by the government. The institute had a long, great history, as its pride. The uniqueness of the college was admirable. After watching a video clip of the achievement of the students, the delegates went around the institute to have a look at it. It had a vast, and a great landscape and there were number of music rooms, where the students exhibited their talent and entertained the delegates, it also had science labs, a large swimming pool, and so on. After visiting the entire college, the delegates had a short interaction with the Principal of the College, after which, they captured a group photograph. Later, the delegates started to the office of the ministry and had interaction with Mr.Niroshan Perera, Ministry of National Policies and Economic Affairs, with whom, they shared their experiences, the hospitality that the Srilankans provided and also expressed their sincere gratitude to Mr.Dinesh Gajendran, for the wonderful opportunity and the Government of Srilanka, for their pleasing arrangements. The delegates then had a short interaction with Ms.Chandrani Senartana, Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Affairs. After the wonderful session, the delegates visited SUNFO, one of the leading non-governmental organizations in Srilanka. They were welcomed with the traditional Kandy Dance performance. The delegates received their certificates from Dr.Deshapriya Wijetunge, for the participation in the youth exchange program. Dr.Deshapriya Wijetunge runs the organization, in a very skilful and a successful way.

On 16^th September, the delegates visited the Hon. President’s House, where they were welcomed in such a wonderful manner. The delegates were pleased by the kind treatment of the officials and for the lifetime opportunity, that they got. They took a visit of the entire house, after which, they finished their lunch and went for shopping. The day was allocated for shopping, where they visited two large shops.

The next day, the delegates visited Dumbara and volunteered in the construction of a youth centre. After volunteering, the delegates went to the knuckles mountain range, where they enjoyed and had their refreshing time till evening. They then returned to the National Youth Service Council for their Dinner and Night stay.

On September 18, the delegates visited the Youth Parliament, which is located in the National Youth Service Council. The members of the parliament discussed about the job opportunities in foreign countries, and about the positive and negative sides of it. Mr.Dinesh Gajendran shared his own views and the statistics of the employers who works in foreign countries. After the session and lunch, there was a cultural program and farewell, conducted by the youth of Srilanka, in which the Indian delegates participated in various events such as Dance, Panel discussion and a pageant show. The Indian delegates dressed up themselves, portraying the various states of India, which was marked as the highlight event of the evening. After lots and lots of photographs and enjoyment, the day came to an end.

The next day, September 19, the Indian delegates started from Srilanka, and returned India, with abundant, beautiful memories to be cherished forever.