Forty years of legacy

The Colombo Toastmasters Club, one of the first and oldest Toastmasters Club in South Asia celebrated 40 years and the Presidential Installation recently at Hotel Galadari.With the theme for the year “The Legacy Lives”, the Club celebrated 40 years of leadership, public speaking and training, whilst recognising its legends and the legacy behind the august institution.

The installed president Shashikala Wanigasinghe highlighted the service The Colombo Toastmasters Club has rendered to the community over the past four decades, that has touched thousands of lives in Sri Lanka, India and the Maldives. She noted that Club was not only a place where people turn into speakers, but a place where service takes centrestage.

“That’s the beauty of this club – what matters is not your age or where you come from but how willing you are to serve,” said Wanigasinghe in her acceptance speech.

Former cricketer turned analyst and commentator Russel Arnold gracing the occasion as chief guest, left the audience spellbound with a timely message for emerging leaders. “Remember your strongest competition is yourself, meet adversity with grace and always hold on to self-respect,” he said, speaking about meeting challenges in all paths of life.

The guest of honour, Toastmaster Balraj Arunasalam, the first Sri Lankan to hold the position of International President during the term 2017-2018, highlighted the importance of standing together as a Toastmasters community – and as a nation as a whole, while Meena Butani, took the Toastmasters and guests down a 40-year memory lane.

TM Shashikala Wanigasinghe was installed as the 40th President of the Club by DTM Balraj. Other members of the executive committee who were also installed on this occasion were Ashinsanie Weerasinghe as Vice President – Education, TM Thilini Agalawatta as Vice President – Membership, TM Thushan Mahagedara as Vice President – Public Relations, TM Qadijah Irshad as Secretary, TM Ruwan Weerasinghe as Treasurer, and TM Amanda Pethiyagoda as Sergeant-at-arms.

The Colombo Toastmasters Club is the first to be founded in South Asia, encompassing Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and the Maldives. For 40 years the Club has not only lived up to its promise of being a training ground for fledgling leaders to sharpen their public speaking and leadership skills, but has also metamorphosed into the leading public speaking and leadership training ground for corporates and school children.