A new milestone for Toastmasters
View(s):The regalia
(Where iconic speakers are made)
“A glam event with a difference, elegance and class written all over it. True Toastmasters style;” said a veteran Toastmaster, at the Charter and Officer Installation Ceremony of The Regalia (Toastmasters Club) held at the Galadari Hotel, Colombo on Tuesday, 30th July. The Chief Guest for the evening was Hon. FaiszerMusthapha, Deputy Minister, Investment Promotion, himself; a great believer in effective public speaking.
Deputy Minister - Investment Promotion Hon. Faiszer Musthapha delivering his speech
The President of the Regalia being installed
The iconic event was star-studded with legendary Toastmasters such like HaleemGhouse, founder member of Toastmasters in Sri Lanka and the first Division Governor for Clubs in Sri Lanka, Rajiv Goonetilleke, the Winner of the First International Taped Speech Contest, Niranjan de Silva, a Past President of Colombo Toastmasters Club and a Past District Officer, YukthiGunasekara, a Past President of Colombo Toastmasters Club, SujithBandulahewa, a veteran Toastmaster, who was instrumental in forming the Territorial Council between India and Sri Lanka, which eventually led to the formation of District 82, LalithKahatapitiya, the first DTM (Distinguished Toastmaster) of Sri Lanka, and Padmini Samarasinghe, Sri Lanka’s first Woman DTM. Able Toastmaster HaleemGhouse conducted the ceremony of installing the first Executive Committee of The Regalia in his inimitable style, whilst observing high standards of the solemn event; he spiced it up with subtle humourto suit the evening. This fine blend of sorts is achieved only in the hands of a master craftsman. The Founder President: Sulakshana Fernando,
Founder President Sulakshana Fernando delivering the Presidential speech
Vice President Education: AnuradhaSaparamadu, Vice President Membership: Thushantha Kariyawasam, Vice President Public Relations: KolithaRatnayake, Secretary: S Malavarayar, Treasurer: DarshanaWelikala and Sergeant at Arms: Amila Fernando were duly installed in office.
Advance Toastmaster Darshana Welikala delivering the vote of Thanks
Delivering the Presidential speech, Toastmaster Sulakshana Fernando said that The Regalia’s mission is to create Iconic Speakers whilst promoting the elegance of good etiquette in Toastmasters for the greater good of the organization and its members.
“Our main focus is the development of the individual Member, which is, in fact, the spirit of Toastmasters Int’l. Our members canaspire to become ‘distinguished’speakers through The Regalia. Able to speak sense, persuade and inspire audiences for the greater good of
Senior State Council Toastmaster Rajiv Gunetilleke delivering the Keynote speech
society. Speech has no value unless, its purpose is noble;” she said. In that endeavor, the Club plans to have a series of customized training programmes in the future.
The Hon. FaiszerMusthapha observedthat having witnessed some great speakers in action that evening, he feels the biggest service Toastmasters could offer by mother Lanka is to carry the message of secularism. “Quite unfortunately, people have forgotten that it was only the other day we had a War that plagued the country for over thirty years. Back then, ‘living the next day was a bonus’. But, extremists today are arguing on the lines of racism and religion to further their own political ends. Unless you good men and women like you speak up, evil will triumph. Let not that happen. Let us live the Peace we won together as Sri Lankans,” the Hon. Deputy Minister observed.
The Guest of Honour and Club Mentor, Competent Toastmaster SujithBandulahewa addressing the gathering said; “It is interesting to note that the tagline of The Regalia is “Where Iconic Speakers Are Made”, which is a basic requirement to align a person to the tagline of Toastmasters International, which is; “Where Leaders Are Made”. Effective communication is a necessary part of a great leader,” he stated. Senior State Council, Competent Toastmaster
Able Toastmaster Haleem Ghouse conducting the Installation of the Executive Committee
Guest of Honour Toastmaster Sujith Bandulahewa delivering his speech
Rajiv Goonetilleke, delivering the Keynote Speech noted that Toastmasters is a great place for us to learn from each other and leverage on our communications skills with every aspect of our lives. The opportunities are naturally available at a Toastmasters Club because people from all walks of life are free to join and become members.
The dinner following the meeting was a class of its own. Plated service with a seafood theme and the pipe music to go along were exquisitely chosen.
Toastmaster YukthiGunasekara proposed three toasts in honour of the President, H.E. MahindaRajapaksa, President of Toastmasters Int’l and the Charter President of The Regalia, respectively. After dinner, the distinguished gathering were invited to a Coffee & Liqueur Lounge for fellowship where Toastmaster Niranjan de Silva delivered the After Dinner speech, placing the last cherry on the cake of an event that was truly iconic.
“This event will go down in the history of Toastmasters as one of the best Charter & Officer Installation Ceremonies ever;” said a veteran who has been with Toastmasters long enough to comment.
Bravo, The Regalia!
Seated (L-R) - General Manager – Galadari Hotel MrSampath Siriwardena, CEO ExpoLanka Freight – Mr.Jagath Pathirana, Guest of Honour Competent Toastmaster Sujith Bandulahewa, Senior State Council, Keynote Speaker –Rajiv Goonetilleke, Distinguished Toastmaster Padmini Samarasinghe, Hon Faiszer Musthapha – Deputy Minister - Investment Promotion, Founder President of The Regalia – Toastmaster Sulakshana Fernando, Installing Officer - Able Toastmaster Haleem Ghouse, Distinguished Toastmaster Lalith Kahatapitiya, Toastmaster Niranjan De Silva, Toastmaster Gamini Saparamadu / Standing 2nd Row (L-R) Head of HR, Expo Lanka Global – Mr.Harshana Dassanayake, Toastmaster Nuwan Wijesinghe, Toastmaster Yukthi Gunasekera, Toastmaster Sanjaya Sahabandu, Toastmaster Mohan Gamage,Toastmaster Shan Silva, Treasurer –Advance Toastmaster Darshana Welikala, Toastmaster Achala Thomas, Vice President – Public Relations Toastmaster Kolitha Rathnayake, Toastmaster Upeka Silva, Toastmaster Angelo Sylvester / Standing 3rd Row (L -R) Toastmaster Thilanga Sumathipala, Vice President – Membership Toastmaster Thushantha Kariyawasam, Sergeant at Arms- Toastmaster Amila Fernando, Secretary – Toastmaster S Malavarayar, Toastmaster Kalum Sandaruwan, Toastmaster Bimal Liyanage, Toastmaster Rochelle Gabriel, Vice President – Education Toastmaster Anuradha Saparamadu, Toastmaster Hemal Silva, Toastmaster Ravindra Kodituakku, Toastmaster Dexter Batcho / Absentees - Toastmaster Apeksha Perera , Toastmaster Shehara Fernando, Toastmaster Sharaka De Mel ,Toastmaster Anuradha Wallawwaththa.
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