English Speaking Union, Sri Lanka Branch elects new Committee

Tuesday, 3 December 2024 00:03 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Seated from left: Vice President Kamal Muthukuda, Immediate Past President Upali Ratnayake, President Tilak Amarasinghe, President Elect Dr. Nalin Jayasuriya, Vice President Haritha Wijewardene

Standing from left: Hony. Secretary Yasmin Nimaladasa, Exco Member Ranjani Jayasuriya, Treasurer Rakbo Perera, Asst. Secretary Binithi Perera, Immediate Past Hony. Secretary Dhammika Amarasinghe.

Absent: Asst. Treasurer Dulya De Silva, Exco Member Skaakya Nathavitharana

The English Speaking Union, Sri Lanka Branch recently elected its new Committee for the year 2025/26.

The English Speaking Union, Sri Lanka Branch is an independent progressive and dynamic educational charity which was founded in 1981 by the late Dr. T.P. Amarasinghe. Its aim is to educate young students in the use of English as a language and in the art of public speaking.

It is affiliated with the English Speaking Union of the Common Wealth, a Royal Charter based in Dartmouth House, London. Its patron H.M. King Charles III, and the President is HRH the Princess Royal, Princess Anne. The English Speaking Union has branches in over 50 countries worldwide from Albania to Yemen. All work to promote proficiency in spoken English as a means of cultural exchange and understanding.

The main event in its calendar is the Annual National Public Speaking competition which is open to students between the ages of 16 to 20. A winner of the competition

Is selected on an annual basis to represent Sri Lanka at the International Public Speaking competitions held annually in London by the Headquarters of the English Speaking Union.

The competition brings the best young speakers from all over the world to London for a week of cultural exchange and public speaking contests. Established in 1980, it now reaches over one million young people in more than 50 countries across the globe, showcasing the highest standard of public speaking, while giving delegates an opportunity to meet and engage with other young people of different backgrounds and nationalities.

Finalists (national winners of the English-Speaking Union’s or other public speaking competitions in their country) must write and deliver a speech connected with the theme for the year’s competition. Past themes have included ‘Culture is not a luxury but a necessity’ and ‘The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they have none’.

The President, Tilak Amarasinghe is desirous of taking the Public Speaking Workshop and Competition to the north and to the south during 2025 in order to enable exposure for the youth of our country to engage in spoken English and Public Speaking skills.