It'll be a few days for us to close this busy, happy, sad, unfortunate, and very exciting year. This year could have meant many things to all of us, and there is always something that we look forward to in the new year and I asked myself "What’s going to be new for 2017?" and it's just going to be giving more time for myself and so I asked the questions around from a few young and vibrant people and this is what they had to say. 

Personally, I would like to try to grow some of my hair back since I am currently balding, any ideas? For takas.lk we are planning in enhancing the user experience by adding new ways to shop online. We are also planning on reinventing traditional shopping experience (more on this later). - Lahiru Pathmalal 

What's going to be new for 2017 is for me to be more true to myself in every decision I make. No more fear of being politically incorrect or upsetting sensitivities and no more looking over my shoulder and second guessing myself. No more waiting for things to happen... I will try to make them happen. I will be more driven next year and set better goals. - Shanuki De Alwis 

In 2017, we want to jazz up our apartment, finalise our wedding album, work on our surfing skills, get back in to yoga and take RUMPUNCH to the next level. - Rukshi and Binara Seneviratne 

I am really looking forward to 2017 as I feel it's going to be a great year of personal and professional growth for me and my business. Particularly within the fitness side of my work there is going to be a lot of development as my business partner Hasitha and I will be launching our studio space within the Prana Lounge in January. The Kinetic Studio will be offering a variety of functional and TRX based classes that will be catering to all fitness levels. With the launch of our studio and website we will be branching into the field of corporate and fitness retreats. On a personal basis I am really excited about furthering my current practice and experience by completing my yoga teacher training course. I have always believed in constantly evolving and expanding your horizons  no matter your age so I really look forward to the year ahead filled with knowledge and enlightenment. - Tanuja Perera 

Hoping that the year 2017 will help our country to be open minded and accept people for who they are. - Hash and Umanga 

2017 will be the year of more. More smiling, more laughing, more vacations, more family and more time with friends. Wishing everyone a sunshiny new year. - Ashanthi Weerasinghe 

I'm looking forward to creating a consciousness of life through my venture Soul Food, inspired by Kirby and Fiona de Lanerolle of WOW, and I would love to bring a transformation in the choices people make about their food. - Ina Wehleit-Perera 

My ambition is striving towards making history in 2017. Obstacles which I may face in the year to come might be a setback in achieving this. I will make sure that I put my best out there in order to achieve my goal. In my powerlifting career, my to do list consists of competiting at the Asian Commonwealth and the university powerlifting world cup championships 2017. In addition to my career goals my personal goal is not to create any new year resolutions but simply to motivate others around me to be their best. I would also like to contribute and help create an awareness through certain disciplines I follow in my day to day life to practice what I preach and help others realise that we all could show more compassion, share more happiness, love and help stop the violence in coming years. Together I feel we can make that difference. - Dhanushka Kodikara 

In 2017, I look forward to greater improvements in both my personal life and professional life. In my personal life I hope to be a more patient, appreciative, positive and happier person, ensuring I don't take any of my loved ones for granted because tomorrow is never a guarantee. And in my professional life I look forward to giving both staff and customers of Tiesh more innovative and high quality products ensuring customer satisfaction every time - Thiyasha 

2016 had a lot new beginnings for me. So my aspiration for 2017 is, rather focusing on what is new, is to dedicate my time and energy to building and improving on what I have established and to make the best of what I already have. - Anjuli Flamer-Caldera 

2017 will be filled with more opportunities and adventure! People that I will be looking forward to getting to know and the dreams that I will be looking forward to that are yet to unfold, and most of all the happiness and the joys that are waiting. - Adrian De Silva 

A fresh new year is once again upon us. It's the time to be thankful for the blessings of the past year and to take stock of all our achievements. At the same time, 2017 is a brand new year to start afresh, to start strong, and yet another chance to do everything we want to do this year. - Romesh Atapattu 

I just wore my new dark green sunglasses, it's prophetic, green will be the colour. We will see through the green lens. We will sensitive to the environment, nature and the world. And the environment will respond to us and work for us. We should respect and honour our bodies and not be slave to our desirous eyes (all the time). There is a place for the spirit of God to reside in us, in 2017 increase that space and not ignore it. This spirit raises faith and speaks. Declare good things around you and see them manifest. Stop complaining and start creating new good things. - Ajai Vir Singh 

I started Stripes and Checks along with two of my close friends Kalana and Udara to fill a void in the men’s fashion segment. We’ve come a long way in the two years since we started and it has been exciting. We popularised custommade shirts, not just limited to measurements but also design. We’re growing fast in the corporate shirts segment by serving some well-known brands and our ready-to-wear range is expanding our reach. With a keen interest in fashion and a passion for unique styles I would like my customers to further up their fashion game, stand out as confident individuals and make a statement through the way they dress in 2017. I envision S&C to become the go-to men’s fashion brand and expand our offerings to include ladies wear. - Gajan Vinothan 

For 2017, I want to keep fitness a part of my life, and that’s what makes me do all what I do and also I WANT to always give my best! - Arantha