From his quirky taste in shirts and his favourite verse being “too late to apologize” (is it?) and the fact that his favourite book is Wuthering Heights, Life Online brings to the limelight Thusitha Ranatunga. Thusitha is one of Sri Lanka’s most aspiring youth in the field of Model United Nations. He does not only excel in conferences such as COMUN and SLMUN with over 8 awards to his name, but his greatest achievement as of now would be his honorable post of the Secretary General of SLMUN 2016. 

Thusitha, tell us a little about SLMUN and your line of work as Secretary General. 

Sri Lanka Model United Nations is Sri Lanka’s paramount and largest Model United Nations Conference. It is a youth platform that contributes in moulding the youth towards future leaders and diplomats. Being a proud initiative of our Charge D’ Affairs, Mr. Rohan Ellawala aims to bridge youth from around Sri Lanka as well as youth across the world, regardless of race, religion or school, where for three days these individuals are assigned brand new roles as they step into the shoes of world leaders and voice out their opinions on world and current affairs. 

What inspired you to start MUN at a young age? 

The passion for leadership and the urge to voice out what one feels and the thrill of seeing my seniors take the stage as diplomats and enroll in something so elegant as a child was a pressing image and worth commitment. 

What do you believe in strongly that most people will disagree with? 

Change. 

How does it feel to be this year’s Secretary General? 

Well it's very hard to describe. I feel really honoured and privileged while at the same time I feel great because SLMUN means a lot to me and to be Secretary General it means the world to me. 

What does your closet look like? 

It looks formal and different. 

What would you say is your greatest achievement so far? 

Being Secretary General. 

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? 

Working in the UN, perhaps representing my country. 

What have you got to say to the youth of Sri Lanka? 

The world is not a fairytale, we might be the youth and we might feel free but writing the pages of our story is in our hand from the little changes for larger efforts, so do your part, and make your ending a happy ending. 

What are the biggest issues the world faces now in general? 

Climate change, technology, ethnic and religious violence, justice and preserving humanity. 

11 things you need to know about Thusitha Ranatunga 

1. Favourite food - Chinese 

2. Favourite Avenger - Thor 

3. Country you visited and liked - India for its huge diversity 

4. Describe yourself in one word - Visionary 

5. Favourite singer - Adele 

6. What is your favorite quote? - If plan A doesn’t work the alphabet has 25 letters 

7. Favourite TV show - Two And A Half Men 

8. Your role model - my grandfather 

9. Favourite time of the day - dawn of day 

10. Favourite author - Lev Grossman 

11. Anything weird about you - Wow that's a hard one because there is a lot 

For SLMUN 2016 registrations please check out: www.slmun.org. 

By Zainab Faizal 
Photographs by Waruna Wanniarachchi 
Location - Coffee Stop, Cinnamon Grand Colombo