Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya’s Emotional Homecoming to Delhi University’s Hindu College

New Delhi, October 16, 2025 — Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya marked a deeply symbolic moment in her career as she returned to her alma mater, Delhi University’s Hindu College, on her first official visit to India as head of government. Addressing students three decades after completing her undergraduate studies in Sociology (1991–1994), Amarasuriya described the occasion as a “journey back to where leadership first took root.”

A Warm Welcome at Her Alma Mater

The Prime Minister was greeted with a ceremonial guard of honour by 16 NCC cadets, followed by a tree-planting ceremony on the college’s front lawn. The college also inaugurated a Socio-Ethnographic Research Laboratory named in her honour, recognizing her academic achievements and leadership in public life.

Amarasuriya toured Room 27, her old classroom, recalling the vibrant discussions on Karl Marx and Max Weber that shaped her early intellectual life. She interacted with students and faculty members, with her former professors describing her as a “warm, down-to-earth scholar deeply engaged with issues of justice and equality.”

Inspiring the Next Generation

In her address at the Sanganeria Auditorium, Amarasuriya urged students to take an active role in shaping democracy, saying, “Democracy is not a spectator’s role; it demands participation, reflection, and courage.” She credited Hindu College for nurturing her critical thinking and sense of social responsibility, adding that her years there “instilled the values that guided my path into leadership.”

Strengthening India–Sri Lanka Ties

Touching upon bilateral relations, the Prime Minister emphasized the shared heritage and values that bind India and Sri Lanka. She expressed gratitude to India for its support during Sri Lanka’s 2022 economic crisis and called for deeper educational and technological collaboration, particularly among students and young researchers of both countries.

Broader Diplomatic Context

Amarasuriya’s visit forms part of her three-day official India tour (October 16–18, 2025). She is set to deliver the keynote address at the NDTV World Summit and hold discussions with Indian officials at NITI Aayog and IIT Delhi on partnerships in education, digital innovation, and sustainable development.

Her return to Hindu College was celebrated as an emotional homecoming and a moment of pride for both nations—highlighting the enduring influence of education in building bridges across generations, societies, and borders.