(UTV -COLOMBO) The High Commission of Sri Lanka in Ottawa in collaboration with CurveUp launched the “Future Entrepreneurs” programme at a virtual ceremony on 18 December 2024 as part of the High Commission’s outreach programme. CurveUp is a leading, empowering organization in technology, education, and business innovation.
This pilot project, the first of its kind, is intended to foster entrepreneurship among young residents of Sri Lankan origin living in Canada and by extension to promote investment in Sri Lanka. The concept of the initiative emerged during the visit of the founder and CEO of CurveUp, Mohamed Fawaz to Canada, earlier this year.
Delivering his remarks at the event, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Canada, U. L. Mohammed Jauhar stated “this programme addresses the critical need to foster entrepreneurship among young Canadians of Sri Lankan origin. By providing mentorship, tools, and opportunities, we aim to empower the next generation of innovators while strengthening the ties between Sri Lanka and Canada”. Further, the High Commissioner emphasized the vitality of the shared vision behind the initiative as it reflects the commitment of the High Commission to nurture creativity and innovation of the youth of the Sri Lankan diaspora and to strengthen their bonds with the motherland.
Joining the virtual launch of the programme, CEO of CurveUp, Mohamed Fawaz highlighted the programme’s focus and stated “this initiative is designed to mentor and inspire young minds by equipping them with the skills to tackle real-world challenges. With hands-on learning and exposure to emerging fields like artificial intelligence, participants will gain invaluable insights to fuel their entrepreneurial journeys”. He further stated that by targeting 20–30 participants aged between 18 and40, the “Future Entrepreneurs” programme offers a platform for young talents to transform ideas into actionable plans and successful ventures.
The High Commissioner congratulated CEO Fawaz and the CurveUp team for their partnership, expressing confidence in the programme’s potential to produce future leaders in innovation and business, and appreciated the officials at the High Commission of Sri Lanka in Ottawa for their enthusiasm and efforts in realizing the concept.
Deputy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in Ottawa, Anzul Jhan and Counsellor, Kumarasamy Kiritharan participated in the launch of the programme together with the CurveUP team. Videos of the lunching ceremony and registration are available at https://youtu.be/ifZ7nluW35s and https://programmesbycurveup.com/future-entrepreneurs respectively.