CHSGA holds 50th AGM, Asela Wavita elected new President

The Ceylon Hotel School Graduates Association launched its golden anniversary celebrations by holding its 50th Annual General Meeting on 16 October. 

Traditionally a much-looked-forward-to event in the association’s calendar, the event was held virtually with only a few invitees including past presidents and office bearers meeting at Waters Edge to celebrate the event and elect the new committee for the year 2021/22. 

Though virtual, the event was a huge success with over 200 members joining from all over the world. In celebrating the 50th anniversary, CHSGA had lined up numerous events, but due to the prevailing situation, they had to be postponed. However, once the situation turns favorable, several commemorative and exciting events are billed to take place. 

Asela Wavita, a graduate of Ceylon Hotel School and School of Tourism (presently known as Sri Lanka Institute Tourism and Hotel Management), an experienced hospitality professional and the General Manager of Victoria Golf and Country Resort, Kandy was elected as the President of the Association for the term 2021/22. Incidentally, he is a product of Kandy Campus of SLITHM/CHS and the first from the Kandy campus to be elected to the prestigious position. He takes over the reins from Priyal Perera. 

Patrick Pereira and Gitanjali Chakravarty were elected as Vice Presidents with Irandi Wijegunawardane being appointed as the General Secretary and Dinesh Hettiarachchi being appointed as the Treasurer. This year’s committee comprises many hospitality professionals of different specialisations who hold senior management positions in the industry. 

While commending the past presidents and past committees over the last five decades for their hard work and dedication in bringing the association to the level it is today, during his speech, Wavita stated: “As we celebrate our 50th anniversary during a pandemic and with hopes and prayers of recovery and rebounding,   the association needs to be pragmatic and look at meeting the requirements of the industry while having the best interest of its members at heart.”

He elaborated on future plans which include setting up of a ‘CHSGA Centre for Excellence,’ which would benefit both SLITHM graduates as well as industry personnel in fine-tuning their skills and technical knowledge, continuation of the plans to convert SLITHM into a degree-awarding body, continuation of the CHSGA Strategic Direction proposals , further enhancing relations with the industry and making CHSGA a key stakeholder in the industry while taking the association forward by passing the challenges that are faced by the industry at present. 

Priyal Perera during his welcome address spoke of the challenges faced by both the association and the industry at large which prevented CHSGA from executing many plans that were laid out for the year. He was happy with the way the association has progressed over the last two years while being able to lay the ground work for many of the future plans of the association. 

Established in 1971, the Ceylon Hotel School Graduates Association, the alumni of Sri Lanka Institute if Tourism and Hotel Management, has gained the trust of the hospitality industry not only as an association of eminent hospitality professionals, but also as a body that has contributed back to society with its CSR initiatives through the years.

With a membership of over 1,500 individuals who hold influential positions both locally and internationally, the CHSGA has worked effectively to build a closer community that continues to promote unity, dedication and networking in the hospitality sector.