Rakwana, Sri Lanka – The "My Day, My Rights” Young Leaders’ Summit took place on October 3-4, 2026, at the Rakwana Temple in Rathnapura District, Sri Lanka. The program was organized under the guidance and leadership of UPF-Sri Lanka and Religious Youth Service (RYS) Sri Lanka, with the total project budget raised through generous donors and sponsors. The summit was guided by senior leadership, including Dr. Chula Senarathna, secretary general of UPF-Sri Lanka, and Mrs. Dines

Sydney, Australia – This year marks the 40th anniversary of Religious Youth Service (RYS), a project created to allow young people to experience practical peacebuilding through service projects and interfaith cooperation. To celebrate this anniversary, UPF-Australia held a program in the suburb of Minto on August 15, 2026, with around 70 people participating. The program began at Minto Mosque with an introduction to RYS activities. Ms. Patima Atithanakul served as MC for th

Kalutara District, Sri Lanka – Religious Youth Service (RYS) Sri Lanka celebrated its milestone 40th anniversary with a project organized around the theme: "Restoring Trust: What Can be Done for Peace Now?" The project, supported by UPF-Asia Pacific and UPF-Sri Lanka, involved 34 participants and 10 staff, and took place in Kalutara District, Sri Lanka, from August 7-13, 2026. The program followed the official three-stage experiential model: orientation, work service and ref

Akural, Sri Lanka – In the beautiful coastal town of Akurala, in Galle district of Sri Lanka, UPF-Sri Lanka and Religious Youth Service (RYS) hosted a program to celebrate International Youth Day on August 12, 2026. The program was graced by the participation of Hon. Maithripala Sirisena, the seventh president of Sri Lanka, who attended as the chief guest. The morning assembly opened with deep spiritual solemnity, as representative prayers were offered by youth from five dist

From April 14-16, 2026, the United Nations will convene the ECOSOC Youth Forum 2026 at its headquarters in New York. Held in the context of the 2026 ECOSOC theme and the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development , the forum will support transformative, equitable, innovative, and coordinated actions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals. Among the goals under review, SDG 11, sustainable cities and communities, is

Sydney, Australia – UPF-Australia held a meaningful Ambassador for Peace meeting at its Peace Embassy in Sydney on March 30, 2026, bringing together leaders, guests and community members committed to building a more peaceful world. The program focused on practical approaches to peace through interfaith understanding, community wellbeing and youth service. The meeting began with participants offering prayers according to their own faith traditions, reflecting the spirit of un

Rathnapura District, Sri Lanka – The Vevegananda School in Nopareil, Baladgod, perched high on a wooded mountainside, is known as the most beautiful, and one of the most remote, schools in Sri Lanka. UPF-Sri Lanka and the Religious Youth Service (RYS) chose this isolated location to carry out a youth leadership service project under the theme “Empowering Minds, Enriching Futures.” Under the leadership of the RYS national coordinator, Mr. Pulinda Prabath, the program took pl

Bangkok, Thailand – In support of World Interfaith Harmony Week, UPF-Thailand organized a Religious Youth Service (RYS) camp on Saturday, January 31, 2026. The objective was to provide youth with the opportunity to study and learn about different religions while engaging in collective community service. This was designed to cultivate a mindset of love, unity, and self-sacrifice for the sake of others and the public good, the foundations of sustainable peace. A total of 75 p

Sydney, Australia – The Living for Others Award 2025 event was held on December 6, 2025, at the UPF Peace Embassy in Sydney, bringing together diplomats, community leaders, cultural representatives, families, and volunteers to honor eight extraordinary individuals whose lives embody the spirit of selfless service. Many people serve quietly, without expectation of recognition, yet their dedication leaves a deep and lasting impact. This annual event exists to acknowledge such

Monaragala District, Sri Lanka – Students from Kolladeniya College participated in a three-day Leadership Camp organized by UPF-Sri Lanka and the Religious Youth Service (RYS) of Sri Lanka, from October 4-6, 2025. The event was timed to coincide with World Children’s Day, which is celebrated on October 1 in Sri Lanka. The camp was guided by the senior leadership of the organizing bodies, including Dr. Chula Senarathna , secretary general of UPF-Sri Lanka; Mrs. Dineesha Liyan

Wathupitiwala, Sri Lanka – A program to commemorate the UN International Day of Peace brought together students and teachers at the...

Bandarawela, Sri Lanka – To mark UN International Youth Day on August 12, Sri Lanka’s Religious Youth Service, which operates under the...

Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka – UPF-Sri Lanka and the affiliated Religious Youth Service (RYS) carried out a Youth Leadership Development...

UPF and RYS, in partnership with IAYSP, organized a weeklong youth leadership project.

Vavuniya, Sri Lanka—The Sri Lanka chapters of UPF, the Religious Youth Service (RYS) and the International Association of Youth and...

Villupuram, India—The Religious Youth Service (RYS) and Global Youth Service Foundation (GYSF), partners of UPF, co-organized the Rural...

Vavuniya, Sri Lanka—To mark the UN International Day of Education 2023, UPF-Sri Lanka, with support from the Religious Youth Service...