SKAL Colombo elects a new Executive Committee

SKAL International Colombo, the Colombo branch of the largest International Association of Travel and Tourism Professions, held its 62nd AGM at the Longdon Room of the Taj Samudra recently. 

Dushy Jayaweera from Hemas Air Services Ltd. was elected as the President for the ensuing year. Dushy was earlier appointed to the post of President when the elected President Rohit Khosla was transferred back to India in May last year. According to the SKAL Statutes, she had to complete the balance period of the unexpired term of the Executive Committee until the next AGM.

Also elected were Bernard Wijetunge of Mackinnons American Express (Vice President), Zahara Mufti of Tallman Tours (Secretary), Keethi Jayaweera of Aitken Spence Aviation (Treasurer), Mahika Chandrasena (Galle  Face Hotel – PR Officer), Jack Idroos (World Avenues – Membership Development Officer), Suranjith De Fonseka (Serendib Leisure – Young SKAL Coordinator) and Committee Members  Mahendra Balasuriya (ITQ Lanka) and Upul Gamage (Edge Hotels and Resorts). 

Subsequent to a change in the statutes of SKAL Colombo, the active Past Presidents were elected to a Board of Advisors who would also be members of the Executive Committee on an ex-officio basis and Sk Sega Nagendra (Travel Serve Ltd), Sk Noel Fernando (Fin Travel Ltd), Sk Jayantha Panabokke (Mahaweli Reach Hotel) and Sk Shamali De Vaz (Silverline Tours) were those Past Presidents elected.

In her acceptance speech, Jayaweera said that she and the Exco would aim to increase awareness of SKAL in Sri Lanka and increase its membership while also developing the Young SKAL program among the Young Professionals in the Industry. 

During the lunch that followed, a new member, Nirmalan Nagendra, from KPMG Hotel Consultancy Services, was inducted into SKAL.