News
District Leaders appointed for District 82, Toastmasters International for 2022 – 2023
Toastmasters International is a worldwide non-profit educational organization that empowers individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders. At the Annual Business Meeting in May 2022, District 82 of Toastmasters International announced leadership appointments for the 2022 – 2023 program year. Distinguished Toastmaster Nisal Weerakoon was been named District Director. Distinguished Toastmaster Mahinda Karunakara was appointed as the Program Quality Director and Distinguished Toastmaster Ganga Fernando was appointed as the Club Growth Director.
Nisal Weerakoon, DTM was the Charter President of Voice of Colombo Toastmasters Club. In 2020 – 2021, Nisal assisted District 82 in becoming ‘Smedley Distinguished’ as Club Growth Director, as well as receiving the ‘Excellence in Club Growth’ and the ‘Resilience Award’. Subsequently, as the Program Quality Director of District 82 from 2021 – 2022, he received the ‘Excellence in Program Quality’ Award. He completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Computing from Staffordshire University, United Kingdom, and a Master’s in Information Technology from the University of Colombo School of Computing.
Mahinda Karunakara, DTM from BCIS Toastmasters Club will oversee District 82’s educational and training initiatives, driving support for efforts to provide high-calibre club programming and promoting the Distinguished Club Program. He served as the District’s Club Growth Director for the 2021 – 2022 program year. Mahinda graduated from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura and holds an MBA from the Rajarata University of Sri Lanka in addition to a PhD in Business Management from the University of Swahili, Panama.
Ganga Fernando, DTM from Serendib Toastmasters Club will be in charge of all District marketing, club-building, and member and club retention efforts. Ganga was the Most Outstanding Area Director of the District in 2018 and the Most Outstanding Toastmaster of the District in 2017. She obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with first-class honours from the University of Colombo and an MBA in Finance from the same university.
“Mahinda and Ganga bring experience and passion for supporting the District mission and continuing the District 82 legacy. And 11 Division Directors and 44 Area Directors, along with the top 7 officers and extended team, are the enablers driving District 82 to the pinnacle through the challenging times while keeping the focus to double the value we give to our members”, said Nisal Weerakoon.
District 82 also announced the remaining Officer Positions completing the Top 7 positions and Division Directors hailing from a variety of Toastmasters Clubs.
* Administration Manager: Hashini Silva, DTM – Central Colombo Toastmasters Club
* Finance Manager: Jeewana Pradeep, DTM – AATSL Toastmasters Club
* Public Relations Manager: Asel Karunasingha – KDU Toastmasters Club
Srianthie Salgado, DTM, will serve ex officio as the Immediate Past District Director.
* Division A Director: Ruwani Wimalasena, DTM – Nations Toastmasters Club
* Division B Director: Shiham Ali – Wednesday 7 Toastmasters Club
* Division C Director: Imalee De Silva, DTM – Sampath Bank Toastmasters Club
* Division D Director: Dinuk Silva, DTM – Ralph Toastmasters Club
* Division E Director: Mario De Silva – Ragama Toastmasters Club
* Division F Director: Ruwan Jayasooriya, DTM – Siyane Toastmasters Club
* Division G Director: Mazin Hussain – Voice of Colombo Toastmasters Club
* Division G Director: Arshad Nizam, DTM – Innovative Minds Toastmasters Club
* Division I Director: Buddhima Subasinghe, DTM – NIBM Toastmasters Club
* Division J Director: Zamani Nazeem, DTM – Dialog Toastmasters Club
* Division K Director: Lakmali Ranatunga, DTM – Kandy Toastmasters Club
The official appointment letters for the members of the newly established “Cricket Transformation Committee” (CTC) were handed over on Monday (04) by the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sunil Kumara Gamage.
The following members received their letters of appointment at the Ministry premises:
Sidath Wettimuny
Thushira Radella
Prakash Schaffter
Ms. Avanthi Colombage
The Ministry also noted that veteran cricketers Roshan Mahanama and Kumar Sangakkara, who are key members of the committee, are currently overseas. Their official appointments will be formalised immediately upon their arrival in Sri Lanka.
The Cricket Transformation Committee has been mandated to oversee the administration and drive structural reforms within Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) in accordance with the powers vested in the Minister under the Sports Act No. 25 of 1973.
Three prison guards attached to the Welikada Prison have been arrested by Borella Police following the death of an inmate on Monday (04).
‘Bar Association must reveal its stand’
Civil society group ‘Free Lawyers’ has requested Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena to probe whether political pressure was brought on a Magistrate, or a High Court Judge, in respect of an ongoing high profile case.
Speaking to The Island on behalf of ‘Free Lawyers,’ Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon said that they felt the urgent need to seek the CJ’s intervention, following the May Day declaration by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake that the verdict of a case that was heard on 30 April would be given on 25 May. Tennakoon said that addressing the NPP’s main May Day rally at Maharagama, the President asked the people to be ready to celebrate that verdict. The President couldn’t have said so if he hadn’t been aware of the impending verdict, Tennakoon said, while emphasising the responsibility on the part of the Bar Association to state its position on the issue.
‘Free Lawyers’ recently captured pubic attention following its exposure of the theft of USD 2.5 mn from the Treasury.
Responding to a query, Tennakoon said that on behalf of ‘Free Lawyers,’ Maithri Gunaratne, PC, on Monday, 4 April, wrote to both CJ Surasena and President of the Bar Association Rajeev Amarasuriya.
Alleging that President Dissanayake’s declaration caused immense harm to the independence of the judiciary and raised controversy over the judgement that would be given on 25 May, ‘Free Lawyers’ organisation also asked the CJ to inquire into whether the entire judicial process was under political pressure.
Tennakoon said that they expect the Bar Association to reveal its position on President Dissanayake’s statement. Tennakoon pointed out that during the May Day address, President Dissanayake made reference to 15 cases that were to be taken up during this month, whereas Transport, Highways and Urban Development Minister, as well as Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayake, mentioned nearly 10 names of politicians, both sitting and former lawmakers, to be summoned beginning, May.
Tennakoon said that the NPP appeared to have used May Day to counter growing accusations over the Colombo port container controversy, coal scam, Rs 13.2 bn NDB fraud and theft of USD 2.5 mn from the Treasury and USD 625,000 from the Sri Lanka Postal Service.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
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