Sri Lankan disability rights advocate Nilshani De Silva has been selected to represent Sri Lanka at the 19th Session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

The event, which marks the 20th anniversary of the CRPD, is considered the world’s leading forum on disability rights and brings together governments, policymakers, advocates, and disability leaders from around the globe.

Appointed as Sri Lanka’s Youth Representative, Nilshani has been invited to address the opening session of the conference on June 9 alongside the United Nations Secretary-General and other international leaders.

Born with Down Syndrome, she is widely recognised as a disability rights advocate, motivational speaker, teacher, and fashion designer who has dedicated her efforts to promoting inclusion and challenging stereotypes about persons with disabilities.

Sri Lanka, which signed the CRPD in 2007 and ratified it in 2016, will also chair this year’s conference session.

Nilshani’s participation is being celebrated as a landmark achievement for both Sri Lanka and the disability community, underscoring the importance of representation and inclusion in global decision-making processes.