Business
Ceylinco Life Toastmasters Club forges ahead to 8th year
The eighth installation ceremony of Ceylinco Life’s Toastmasters Club was conducted virtually recently, during which a new executive committee was appointed, new members were welcomed, and the achievers of the past year were honoured.
The event culminated in the appointment of Milinda Peiris, Manager – Training and Development at Ceylinco Life as the new President of the Club to head the executive committee comprising of Dileepa Delwala (Vice President, Education), Ms Keshani Samarakoon (Vice President, Membership), Mohammadhu Riham (Vice President, Public Relations), Ms Ruvini de Silva (Secretary), Nalin Dhanushka (Treasurer) and Ravi de Mel (Sergeant-at-Arms).
Furthermore, Chulaka Kumarasinghe who is the Chairperson of the Toastmasters Leadership Institute (TLI), a Past Area Director and Past President of the Club was honored at the installation for winning the ‘Distinguished Toastmaster’ award, the highest recognition bestowed by Toastmasters International.
Eight members were also recognized this year and inducted for completing Toastmasters Pathways learning experiences, a newly-launched education programme with emphasis on personal and professional development. Milinda Peiris completed the ‘Presentation Mastery’ Path and Gayan Alwis completed the ‘Dynamic Leadership’ Path. Meanwhile, Ms Ruvini de Silva, Samitha Hemachandra, Gayan Alwis, Milinda Peiris, and Chulaka Kumarasinghe were presented the ‘Triple Crown Award’ under Pathways for earning three awards in the Toastmasters Programme within a year.
The eighth installation ceremony also included the induction of six new members to the Ceylinco Life Toastmasters Club which had 44 registered members. As a testament to its prowess in communication and leadership of its members, the club has been accorded ‘Distinguished’ status every year since it came into being.
The club has produced Toastmasters who have won at Division and Area level speech contests, an achievement that surpasses that of many other clubs. The club was awarded the prestigious ‘Golden Gavel’ by Toastmasters International, the highest accolade any Toastmasters Club could win, in 2015.
Additionally, three Ceylinco Life Toastmasters, Shyamala Arulanandam and Chulaka Kumarasinghe who are Past Presidents of the Club, and Gayan Lakmal Alwis have won Division and Area Level Speech and Evaluation contests, a commendable feat for a relatively new club.
The Ceylinco Life Toastmasters Club was chartered in September 2014 and has been part of all events hosted thereafter by Toastmasters International in Sri Lanka.
Toastmasters International is a world leader in communication and leadership development with a membership of more than 358,000. Members improve their speaking and leadership skills by attending one of the 16,800 clubs in 143 countries that make up the global network of meeting locations. By regularly giving speeches, gaining feedback, leading teams and guiding others to achieve their goals in a supportive atmosphere, leaders emerge from the Toastmasters programme. Since its founding in October 1924, the organisation has helped more than four million men and women give presentations with poise and confidence. The communication and leadership projects designed by Toastmasters International are devoted to the development of the art of speaking, listening and critical thinking among its members.
Ceylinco Life has close to a million lives covered by active policies and is acknowledged as a benchmark in the local insurance sector for innovation, product research and development, customer service, professional development, sustainability, and corporate social responsibility.
The Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Sri Lanka (AHK Sri Lanka) proudly facilitated the first-ever Sri Lankan delegation’s participation at Drupa 2024, the world’s largest trade fair for the printing industry and technology. Held after an eight-year hiatus, Drupa 2024 was a landmark event, marking significant advancements and opportunities in the global printing industry.
AHK Sri Lanka played a pivotal role in organising and supporting the delegation, which comprised 17 members from the Sri Lanka Association for Printers (SLAP), representing eight companies from the commercial, newspaper, stationery printing, and packaging industries. This pioneering effort by AHK Sri Lanka not only showcased the diverse capabilities of Sri Lanka’s printing sector but also facilitated vital bilateral discussions with key stakeholders from the German printing industry.
Business
Unveiling Ayugiri: Browns Hotels & Resorts sets the stage for a new era in luxury Ayurveda Wellness
In a captivating reimagining of luxury wellness tourism, Browns Hotels & Resorts proudly unveiled the exquisite Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort Sigiriya. This momentous occasion, celebrated amidst a vibrant and serene grand opening on the 6th of June, heralds a new chapter in the Ayurveda wellness tourism landscape in Sri Lanka. Nestled amidst 54 acres of unspoiled natural splendour, Ayugiri features 22 exclusive suites and stands out as the only luxury Ayurveda wellness resort in the country offering plunge pools in every room, rendering it truly one-of-a-kind.
The grand opening of Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort was an enchanting event, where guests were captivated by the melodies of flutists and violinists resonating through Sigiriya’s lush landscapes. As traditional drummers and dancers infused the air with vibrant energy, Browns Hotels & Resorts’ CEO, Eksath Wijeratne, Kotaro Katsuki, Acting Ambassador for the Embassy of Japan and General Manager, Buwaneka Bandara, unveiled the resort’s new logo, marking a significant moment witnessed by distinguished guests from the French Embassy, Ayurveda and wellness enthusiasts along with officials from the Sigiriya area, LOLC Holdings and Browns Group.
“Our strategic expansion into wellness tourism with Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort Sigiriya symbolises a significant milestone for Browns Hotels & Resorts. Wellness tourism has consistently outperformed the overall tourism industry for over a decade, reflecting a growing global interest in travel that goes beyond leisure to offer rejuvenation and holistic well-being. By integrating the timeless wisdom of Ayurveda with modern luxury, we aim to set a new standard in luxury wellness tourism in Sri Lanka. Whether your goal is prevention, healing, or a deeper connection to inner harmony, Ayugiri offers a sanctuary for holistic well-being” stated Eksath Wijeratne.
Ayugiri encapsulates the essence of life, inspired by the lotus flower held by the graceful queens of the infamous Sigiriya frescoes. Just as the lotus emerges from the murky depths, untainted and serene,
Ayugiri invites guests on a journey of purity and rejuvenation, harmonised with a balance of mind, body and spirit, the essence of nature, echoes of culture and the wisdom of ancient Ayurvedic healing.
HNB General Insurance, one of Sri Lanka’s leading general insurance providers, has been honored as the Best General Bancassurance Provider in Sri Lanka 2024 by the prestigious Global Banking and Finance Review – UK.
The esteemed accolade underscores HNB General Insurance’s unwavering commitment to excellence and its outstanding performance in the field of bancassurance. Through dedication and hard work, the HNB General Insurance team has continuously endeavored to deliver innovative insurance solutions, cultivate strong relationships with banking partners, and provide unparalleled service to customers nationwide. This recognition is a testament to the team’s dedication and relentless pursuit of excellence in the bancassurance business.
“We are honored to receive this prestigious award, which reflects our team’s tireless efforts and dedication to delivering value-added insurance solutions and exceptional service through our bancassurance partnerships,” said Sithumina Jayasundara, CEO of HNB General Insurance. “This recognition reaffirms our position as a trusted insurance provider in Sri Lanka and motivates us to continue striving for excellence in serving our customers and communities.”
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