Champion Junior Speaker Contest 2012 a success

The grand finale of the Champion Junior Speaker Contest 2012 was held successfully at the HNB Towers Auditorium recently. It was an evening to remember when five young children who were selected for the finals from over 500 applicants through a tedious judging process showed their mettle in public speaking in front of a packed audience of 250 distinguished invitees and guests.

Chief Guest Managing Director of Sampath Bank Aravinda Perera and Guests of Honour International Director of Toastmasters International Arunasalam Balraj and Principal, Lyceum International School, Nugegoda Venuri Hettiarachchi graced the occasion.

Addressing the audience, Perera highlighted the importance of public speaking in the corporate world and how he had instructed the officers at the Sampath Bank to complete the Toastmasters Speech manual early to become effective leaders.

Mohan Morais, TM, the Master of Ceremonies together with Chathushika Wijesinghe, CC the Contest Chair and Nirmal Jayasooriya CTM, CL, as Chief Judge, ensured the conduct of a great contest. Five finalists were required to deliver a prepared speech on a topic of their choice for a time duration of four to six minutes and also to deliver a two-minute impromptu speech on the topic ‘What the world really needs in 2012’.

Wasula Kumbukage, a 15-year-old Grade 11 student from Lyceum International School, Nugegoda who spoke on ‘The Secret of Success’ clinched the trophy as Champion Junior Speaker 2012 and the prize money of Rs. 75,000. Wasula, who eloquently shone like a true star orator in his speeches, instantly captivated the attention of the audience and is the son of the famous TV personality Janaka Kumbukage and Anusha Kumbukage.

Becoming the Champion Junior Speaker 2012 is another feather in his cap for Wasula, who has already won many awards at school including the prestigious ‘Pricilla Morris Shield’ for the Shakespeare Solo performance as the youngest competitor ever at the age of 11 years.

The 1st Runner-up Kavindya Tennakoon spoke on ‘Challenge for Change’ and the 2nd Runner-up Kaveen Rathnaweera spoke on ‘Be a Man’.

The Champion Junior Speaker Contest gives an opportunity to the immensely talented young children in the age group of 12 to 18 years to display their oral communication skills in English, thus building their self-confidence and enhancing their personal growth, which in turn would lead to the progress of our nation.

The Champion Junior Contest commenced with an Orientation program on 28 January 2012. At this orientation program, Past President Niranjan de Silva, CTM, CL briefed the students on how to prepare a speech and Past President Chrishanthi Emmanuel, ACS, CL educated the students on how to deliver their speeches.  Contest Chair – Chathushika Wijesinghe, CC explained the Contest Rules and Chief Judge Nirmal Jayasooriya, CTM, CL explained the Judging Criteria to the students.

Amaya Wijesinghe, the Champion Junior Speaker 2011, delivered a demonstration speech, enabling the participants to gain an insight into the competency levels required under this contest. Thereafter, the preliminary round of the Champion Junior Speaker Contest 2012 was held on Saturday, 11 February 2012 and the semi finals were held on Saturday 25 February 2012.

The Colombo Toastmasters Club, which is the first Toastmasters Club in the entire South Asian region, is affiliated to Toastmasters International, whose founder Dr. Ralph C. Smedley’s dream was to afford people a training in public speaking, based on certain fundamental principles of education and to date over three million people all over the world have benefited from Toastmasters.

The Organising Committee of Champion Junior Speakers Contest 2012 comprised of President of The Colombo Toastmasters Club Hussain Moosajee CTM, Project Chairman Piyal Hennayake ACB and Committee Members Nadeeka Jayathillake CL, Nirmal Jayasooriya CTM, CL, Keith Raymond TM, Chathushika Wijesinghe CC, K. Rameshkumar TM, Aruna Fernando TM and Dr. Sajeevan Sivaguru TM.

The Colombo Toastmasters Club is looking forward to hold the 10th Champion Junior Speaker Contest 2013 next year on a grand scale with a wider participation of students from all leading colleges in the country.