ICASL Toastmasters’ Club holds installation ceremony

The Toastmasters Club of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka held its Installation Ceremony of Club Officers for 2011/2012 recently at the Institute’s auditorium.

The Chief Guest at the ceremony was Ceylinco Insurance (Life) PLC Director/ Chief Financial Officer Palitha Jayawardena and Guests of Honour were Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka Secretary/CEO Aruna Alwis and Toastmasters’ District 82 Governor, DTM M Z Saleem.

Founded in 2004, the ICASL Toastmasters Club was one of the few clubs to achieve the highly acclaimed President’s distinguished status during 2010/2011 having being a distinguished club for two consecutive years in 2008/2009 and 2009/2010.

The club intends to continue in its endeavour to become a platform for its members to hone their communication and leadership skills while sustaining its President’s distinguished status.

The ICASL Toastmasters Club is a closed club open to members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka and holds its educational meetings on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at the Institute.

The Installation Ceremony was a colourful event with entertainment and inspiring speeches before a large gathering of eminent Toastmasters, Chartered Accountants and distinguished guests. Chairman of the Organising Committee, Toastmaster S. Sockalingam had spared no efforts to ensure its success. One minute of silence and the recitation of a eulogy by Toastmaster Iranthi Perera in memory of the late Paddy Gunasekera, a dedicated mentor of the Club were held before the proceedings began.

A new dimension to the event was the Installation of Club Officers for 2011/2012 for the newly formed ICASL Students Gavel Club which preceded the main Installation.

The Gavel Club brings Toastmastership to ICASL students.

The incoming President of the ICASL Toastmasters Club, Toastmaster Jayantha Gooneratne outlined his plans for the year and stressed on the need for chartered accountants to acquire communication and leadership skills so that they can stride the global stage with confidence. He said that the Club’s theme for the forthcoming year ‘New Horizons’ was apt in the light of the new visual identity of the Institute and its projections for the future.

  Immediate Past President, Toastmaster Shirley Peiris was the recipient of the Achiever’s Award for his dedication and commitment to the Club during his tenure as President.

  The Master of Ceremonies was Toastmaster Razik Mohamed ably assisted by Toastmaster Anushka Madurusinghe and the Vote of Thanks was given by Toastmaster Hiranthi Ratnayake.

  The following officers for 2011/2012 were installed by Toastmaster Niroshan Nadarajah, Area A 1 Governor: President Jayantha Gooneratne, VP-Education Hiranthi Ratnayake, CC,CL,VP- Membership A. Kandasamy, ACB, ALB, VP-Public Relations Laknow Pathiranage, Secretary Anushka Madurusinghe, Treasurer Hiranthi Wijetunga, Sergeant at Arms Sumedha Amerasinghe and Immediate Past President  Shirley Peiris CC.