At the 2026 Asian Cultural Public Welfare Forum in Hong Kong, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna National Organiser and Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa delivered a message highlighting the importance of preserving cultural identity alongside economic development.
In remarks shared from the forum, Rajapaksa said modernisation should not replace identity, but instead strengthen it, calling for a development model where “modernisation is a tool”, and cultural identity remains an “anchor.”
He noted Asia’s growing global economic role, stating that the region is expected to drive nearly 60% of global GDP growth by 2030. However, he stressed that leadership should not be measured by economic performance alone.
“True leadership is not economic alone: it is moral, cultural, and civilizational,” he said, adding that the future of Asia should be built on “growth with values.”
The forum focused on regional cooperation, cultural exchange, and development strategies in a rapidly modernising Asia.
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