Sri Lankan Youth Entrepreneur Lilan Dayananda Selected for Prestigious Clinton Global Initiative Fellowship

Lilan Dayananda, a prominent youth entrepreneur from Sri Lanka, has been named among the 25 emerging leaders and entrepreneurs selected for the inaugural cohort of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Fellowship. This prestigious fellowship will provide Fellows with access to vital resources and expert guidance as they each develop their own Commitments to Action new, specific, and measurable projects aimed at addressing some of the world’s most critical challenges.

The first class of CGI Fellows is focused on developing Commitments to Action within CGI’s key areas: climate resilience, economic inclusion, health equity, humanitarian response, and social equality. Through this fellowship, these entrepreneurs will enhance their leadership skills, connect with like-minded peers, and refine their innovative ideas into actionable projects. In addition to joining the broader CGI community in 2024, Fellows will participate in in-person community-building events and may be considered for the CGI Greenhouse program. At the conclusion of the fellowship, each Fellow will be required to measure and report the impact of their projects, ensuring accountability and transparency against their initial goals.

Lilan Dayananda, co-founder and CEO of Elzian Agro, has garnered significant recognition in recent years. He was listed on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for 2024 and was among the top ten Youth Social Entrepreneurs at the Global-South Development Expo 2022, and he received the Commonwealth Youth Award for excellence in development work. Further cementing his reputation, Dayananda was recognized among the top 100 meaningful business founders in 2023 by Ernst & Young (EY), and Hogan Lovells Global Law Firms.

Since its inception in 2021, Elzian Agro has been at the forefront of researching and developing innovative, climate-smart, data-driven precision agriculture solutions. The initiative focuses on regenerative agriculture, biodiversity restoration, analog forestry, and agroforestry, aiming to provide sustainable solutions to global food security challenges.

Through the CGI Fellowship, Lilan Dayananda is poised to further his mission of creating effective and sustainable agricultural practices, contributing to a more resilient and equitable global food system.