12th Installation Ceremony of Serendib Toastmasters Club
Serendib Toastmasters Club is an open club which started in 2004. During this short period the club has achieved president’s distinguished club status several times. It has also produced winners in district and international speech contests.
The term 2013/ 2014 was a remarkable period for Serendib with lots of achievements and awards. Having scored all 10 points the club achieved Presidents Distinguished Club status and all three membership awards prescribed by TMI namely,“Smedley”, “Talk Up Toastmasters” and “Beat the Clock”. The club also got the prestigious award the “Golden Gavel + “, the highest award by Toastmasters International.
Presently, the club has 35 registered members who are entrepreneurs, corporate executives, engineers, academics and students... etc. In addition to the regular club activities, Serendib Toastmasters Club conducts youth leadership programs in schools and speech crafter programs at various organizations.
The club hosted their installation ceremony to install the office bearers for 2014/2015 on Saturday 9th August 2014 at the Grand Monarch Thalawathugoda.
The Chief Guest was the Mr Dusty Alahakoon, Chief Operating Officer at Asia Pacific Brewery (Lanka) Limitedwho gave an inspirational speech which was indeed encouraging. The Guest of Honor, Mr. MalrajBalapitiya, CEO- SLT Rainbow Pages & PEO TV, inspired all those present by giving us a resume of his career ladder. He thanked Serendib Toastmasters Club as it enabled him to gain experience in public speaking and leadership skills during his tenure as a member of the club.
DTM Bhathiya Hettiarachchi, who was the Key- Note speaker, inspired the audience by sharing his Toastmasters experience and how the programme helped him to come up to that level. TM PriyankaMendis, Division 82A Governor was also present to witness the proceedings along with other distinguished i nv i t e d g u e s t s. TM NishanthaHewavithana, a past president of Serendib inducted the new members. TM UdayaNissanka introduced the members who deserved recognition due to the contribution made by them to the club.
The following officers for 2014/2015 were installed by TMRohan Dias, a past president.
President: TM Wasantha Kumara Jeewandara, VP Education:TM Ganga Fernando, VP Membership: TM Robert Vijey, VP Public Relations: TM Fa r i l l Farook, Secretary: TM HiranSenewiratne, Treasurer: TM ChandanaWijekoon& Sergeant at Arms: TMSampathWeerasinghe.
The immediate past president, TM NiranjanGunaratne handed over the insignia to the incoming president, TM WasanthaJeewandara. TM Niranjan addressing the gathering shared his journey during the last tenure and told how he worked with his team to get all those prestigious awards to the Club.
The newly elected President, TM Wasantha delivered a truly inspirational speech and shared with the audience how he came up to that level, to be the President of this prestigious club, from very humble beginnings.
The Masters of Ceremonies were TM SujithBandulahewa and TM Lenin Samuel. The Vote of Thanks was proposed by TM Farill Farook.
Toastmasters International (TMI) provides leadership and communication training that is less expensive and is held in high esteem in business circles. TMI has been around for more than 90 years and offers a proven and enjoyable ways to practice and master communication and leadership skills.
TM Wa s a n t h a Ku m a r a Jeewandara,president (077 767 6300) or TM Robert Vijey, VP membership (071 493 3113) can be contacted for further information on the club activities, its membership and also on conducting Youth Leadership Progarmmes( at schools and Universities) and Speechcraft Progarammes ( For Companies).