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Abstract:
This unforgettable motivational speech by Miss Sri Lanka 2024, Anudi Gunasekara, delivered during the Miss World 2025 Head-to-Head Challenge, is a masterclass in passion, purpose, and public service. Beginning with a timeless verse from the Dhammapada, Anudi reflects on her roots, her education, and her commitment to eradicating period poverty through her non-profit organization Saheli. Her words uplift, challenge, and inspire—reminding us all that we don’t need a crown to make a difference, only courage and compassion.
Full Speech Transcript:
"Sabba papasa akarana, kusalasa upasampada, sacitta pariyodapana, etam buddhanasasana. These inspiring words are from Dhammapada in Buddhist literature. The meaning is, refrain from all evil and cultivate good.
And I believe that is my purpose in life. So allow me to share my purpose, my journey, my story with you. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.
Namaskaram. I'm Anudi Gunasekara and I proudly represent my motherland, Sri Lanka. I'm 25 years of age and I recently graduated after completing my bachelor's degree in international relations.
I have plans to start my master's soon and to join foreign service in Sri Lanka. I speak Sinhala, my native language, English, and basic Tamil and French. Geographically, Sri Lanka is a tiny island that you wouldn't even notice on the map.
But the hearts, the hopes, the spirit of my people are anything but small, they're immense. As a country, we've been through a lot. From conflicts to natural disasters, pandemic, and economic crisis.
Yet, my people remained hopeful, they remained strong, they remained resilient. And I believe it's that very resilience that propelled me to where I am today. When I was born, an astrologer told my parents that I was put on this earth to challenge stereotypes, to redefine them, to break the norms.
And I truly, wholeheartedly believe him today. Because I'm coming from a small town called Anuradhapura. That's the first kingdom of Sri Lanka and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
But ironically, no one expected that someone from Anuradhapura will be the one to carry that heritage to the world, which is what I'm doing right now. And most importantly, I believe the places that are least expected to shine are the ones that hold the brightest light. I'm a proud recipient of free education of Sri Lanka.
That means my people have nurtured me, nourished me from my primary education to college education. So I believe in giving back through community service. That's why I founded Saheli, my non-profit organisation to combat period poverty in Sri Lanka.
But unfortunately, period poverty is not just an issue in Sri Lanka. It is a widespread problem in many countries. Through Saheli, I provide donations, conduct awareness programmes, advocate for policy changes to remove the taxes on sanitary products, which is 51 percent.
And also to provide sanitation facilities. And the most important thing to me about Saheli is that we don't just reach out to women that we have just have easy access to. We reach out to women that society often forgets when it comes to menstrual health discussions.
Like women in prisons, women in monasteries, and postpartum mothers who go through their first menstruation after childbirth, which could be challenging. And we come from different races, different religions, different nations. But one common thing about us women, we all bleed.
And we should bleed with dignity. And that's my goal through Saheli. And one more thing to add before I conclude my speech.
We are here to win Miss World, to become the next Miss World. But let me tell you one thing. We are already winners, ladies.
We are already winners. We have already won. We are here representing our nation, speaking about our passion, our inspirations, everything.
That itself is an achievement. And also I have to say there are some contestants that I have been interacting and talking to, even before they won their national titles. I see Miss USA and Miss South Africa, she's here.
I could see how driven they were, how inspiring they were, and how passionate they were. How they were truly the beauty with the purpose, even before they won. That itself shows that you do not need a crown or a title to change the world.
And I believe, realistically, I wouldn't be able to change the entire world. Not even as a Miss World, I'm pretty sure Christina would agree with me. But the idealist in me believes that I can change someone's world.
And I think that's exactly what I will be doing in my life. Thank you so much."
"Sabba papasa akarana, kusalasa upasampada, sacitta pariyodapana, etam buddhanasasana. These inspiring words are from Dhammapada in Buddhist literature. The meaning is, refrain from all evil and cultivate good.
And I believe that is my purpose in life. So allow me to share my purpose, my journey, my story with you. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.
Namaskaram. I'm Anudi Gunasekara and I proudly represent my motherland, Sri Lanka. I'm 25 years of age and I recently graduated after completing my bachelor's degree in international relations.
I have plans to start my master's soon and to join foreign service in Sri Lanka. I speak Sinhala, my native language, English, and basic Tamil and French. Geographically, Sri Lanka is a tiny island that you wouldn't even notice on the map.
But the hearts, the hopes, the spirit of my people are anything but small, they're immense. As a country, we've been through a lot. From conflicts to natural disasters, pandemic, and economic crisis.
Yet, my people remained hopeful, they remained strong, they remained resilient. And I believe it's that very resilience that propelled me to where I am today. When I was born, an astrologer told my parents that I was put on this earth to challenge stereotypes, to redefine them, to break the norms.
And I truly, wholeheartedly believe him today. Because I'm coming from a small town called Anuradhapura. That's the first kingdom of Sri Lanka and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
But ironically, no one expected that someone from Anuradhapura will be the one to carry that heritage to the world, which is what I'm doing right now. And most importantly, I believe the places that are least expected to shine are the ones that hold the brightest light. I'm a proud recipient of free education of Sri Lanka.
That means my people have nurtured me, nourished me from my primary education to college education. So I believe in giving back through community service. That's why I founded Saheli, my non-profit organisation to combat period poverty in Sri Lanka.
But unfortunately, period poverty is not just an issue in Sri Lanka. It is a widespread problem in many countries. Through Saheli, I provide donations, conduct awareness programmes, advocate for policy changes to remove the taxes on sanitary products, which is 51 percent.
And also to provide sanitation facilities. And the most important thing to me about Saheli is that we don't just reach out to women that we have just have easy access to. We reach out to women that society often forgets when it comes to menstrual health discussions.
Like women in prisons, women in monasteries, and postpartum mothers who go through their first menstruation after childbirth, which could be challenging. And we come from different races, different religions, different nations. But one common thing about us women, we all bleed.
And we should bleed with dignity. And that's my goal through Saheli. And one more thing to add before I conclude my speech.
We are here to win Miss World, to become the next Miss World. But let me tell you one thing. We are already winners, ladies.
We are already winners. We have already won. We are here representing our nation, speaking about our passion, our inspirations, everything.
That itself is an achievement. And also I have to say there are some contestants that I have been interacting and talking to, even before they won their national titles. I see Miss USA and Miss South Africa, she's here.
I could see how driven they were, how inspiring they were, and how passionate they were. How they were truly the beauty with the purpose, even before they won. That itself shows that you do not need a crown or a title to change the world.
And I believe, realistically, I wouldn't be able to change the entire world. Not even as a Miss World, I'm pretty sure Christina would agree with me. But the idealist in me believes that I can change someone's world.
And I think that's exactly what I will be doing in my life. Thank you so much."
Video Recording:
For a visual experience of Anudi Gunasekara's heartfelt speech, please watch the full video below:
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