Toastmasters Division level Humorous and Evaluation contests conclude during Mid-year Conferences

Divisions H, A and J of Toastmasters District 82 held their Mid Year conferences recently graced by Distinguished Toastmaster Nagaraja Rao, District Governor of District 82, the Chief Guest at the ceremonies. The Guest of Honour was Distinguished Toastmaster M. Z. Saleem, Lieutenant Governor for Education and Training – District 82.   

Toastmasters is a non-profit organisation dedicated towards helping individuals hone their communication and leadership skills. There are over 260,000 individuals members in over 113 countries around the world who have benefited from the Toastmasters programme. India and Sri Lanka together form Toastmasters District 82. Out of the 14 Divisions that fall within under the preview of District 82, Divisions A, H and J are based in Sri Lanka. The Toastmasters movement has achieved an   unprecedented growth in Sri Lanka during the last few years bringing the total number of Toastmasters clubs in the country to 4555 by the end of September 2010. The Mid Year conference is one of the significant events highlights in the Toastmasters annual calendar, where each division selects the contestants for the District level Humorous and Evaluation speech contests scheduled for during the period of 26 - 28 November, 2010 in Mumbai.  Winners and the first runners-up of each contest will be participating at the District level contest where they will be competing with their counterparts in India. All Division Contests were held after a series of Club and Area Level contests.  

The humorous speech contest was the most looked forward to segment in the agenda which had the audience in bursts of laughter for over an hour.  Sonia Vitharana of Serendib Toastmasters club, Nalindra Fonseka of Printcare Toastmasters Club and Sudath Fernando of Free Trade Zone Toastmasters club evolved emerged as the winners of Humorous speech contests of Divisions A, H and J respectively; while Alroy Mascrenge of Millennium Toastmasters club, Prageeth Sandakelum of Smedley Toastmasters Club and Chethiya Subasinghe of Omega Line Toastmasters Club were the first runners up of the contests.

Evaluation or feedback is a key element of the Toastmasters programme that operates on a unique model.  Toastmasters harnesses a positive and encouraging culture through constructive feedback given by fellow Toastmasters that helps members improve themselves and become confident individuals. It operates on a unique model where there are no teachers or students. Learning takes places through evaluation of speeches by one another.

The Evaluation contests held during the Mid Year Conferences selected the best evaluators of each division. The evaluation contests held during the mid year conferences were as interesting as Humorous speech contests.  Alroy Mascrenge of Millennium Toastmasters club, Bathiya Hettiarachchi of Sampath Bank Toastmasters club and Sudash Liyanage of Wattala Toastmasters Club made it to the top at Division A, H and J Evaluation contests respectively.  Padmajith Jinadasa of Wayamba Toastmasters club, Sandun Fernando of Smedley Toastmasters club and Dr. Ranga Rodrigo of University of Moratuwa Toastmasters Club became the first runners-up of the contests.  

Adnan Issadeen and Shuhaib Ali of APIIT Toastmasters club became second runners up of Evaluation and Humorous speech contest of Division H respectively.  All 3 conferences provided knowledge, entertainment and networking opportunities among the Toastmaster members in Sri Lanka.