IESL Toastmasters Club holds 14th installation

The 14th President Installation ceremony of IESL Toastmasters Club was held recently at the Wimalasurendra Auditorium of The Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka at Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo.

IESL Toastmasters Club provides a comfortable workspace for Engineers interested in improving their communication skills. IESL Toastmasters have come a long way since it was first established in 2004. 

The journey of IESL Toastmasters began in 2003 as a Speechcrafters program conducted by The Colombo Toastmasters club. To continue speaking and to indulge in leadership practice, IESL Toastmasters club was established. The Institute of Engineers continuously supports the club in many forms. 

With the strong leadership foundation laid by the charter President Jagath Jayawardana, all past 13 presidents and the executive committees of the club has contributed to uplift the standards of the club. The club has since been able to very comfortably maintain the charter member strength with the number of members and the quality of the club rising with each passing year.

The club’s growth and the achievements were elegantly showcased at the installation ceremony on Sunday 16 July. In the past year alone, the Immediate Past President, Jagath Wickramasekara, charter member Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) Zameen M. Saleem, Division Director Ranishka Wimalasena and incoming President Amal Kaluarachchi’s contributions have been significant. 

During the year the club won many awards including the Golden Gavel award, Founders Ribbon and Talk up Toastmasters ribbon. The experience the club gained in the past year seemingly has had a positive impact on club’s internal affairs as well. The tastefully decorated event was attended by all the who’s who of the Toastmasters community including the International President Elect DTM Balraj Arunasalam and District Director DTM Ajantha Jayawardena. The President of IESL, Engineer Jayavilal Meegoda graced the event as the Chief Guest. 

Past President Manjula Samarasinghe inducted 16 new members in to the fold at this colorful ceremony. The incoming Executive Committee led by President Amal Kaluarachchi followed by Vice President (VP) Education, Erandi Udageachchi, VP Membership, Asanka Jayaweera, VP Public Relations, Kanishka Rambukwella, Secretary, Nalin De Silva, Treasurer, Surendra Perera and Sergeant at Arms, Tharika Fernando, were ceremonially installed in their respective offices by Charter member DTM Saleem. 

In his acceptance speech Kaluarachchi said: “As the president, I do not have much to create – but to follow the footsteps of 13 heroes, the legends, the past presidents of our club. They have enlightened us with the destiny, ‘Excellence’. My duty, I believe, is to do the things better, give momentum to the ship to sail through waters.”