For the first time after 25 years of having the influence of Toastmasters International in the country the First Lady DTM Award was presented by Toastmasters International to Mrs. Padmini Samarasinghe.
Padmini was the recipient of this prestigious award from Toastmasters International. She is the first lady from Sri Lanka to achieve the highest award the title Distinguished Toastmaster - from Toastmasters International.

The Plaque given to Padmini reads "recognition is given to Padmini Samarasinghe by Toastmasters International for Outstanding Accomplishments and Leadership excellence in the pursuit of the mission of Toastmasters International "15th May 2009.

Padmini a well known Financial Accountant and the Charter President of the CIMA Sri Lanka Toastmasters Club which she nurtured 5 years ago is a speaker par excellence. She became the first lady Advanced Toastmaster Gold and followed it with the Distinguished Toastmaster Award. She is an avid reader and is presently a Consultant and Trainer in Professional Communication Skills whilst also being the Managing Director of International Super Trades a management buy out of the Commodity trading arm of Brown & Company where she was the Finance Director for a period of 15 years.

Padmini stated that unlike a few years ago a Toastmaster could become a DTM after delivering 50 speeches which is by following the Communication Track. But now you need to follow both the Communication track as well as the Leadership track and prove yourself worthy of being a Leader and a good, effective Communicator and Speaker both at the same time, which means you need to get an Advanced Communicator Gold and also an Advanced Leader Silver and complete the High Performance Leadership programme.

She said this was a challenge and as always when the 'going gets tough the tough get going'.
She had assignments in Success Leadership and Success Communication Programs to be covered as well as to do a 'High Performance Leadership' Programme with other Toastmasters and or Accountants in her profession. She chose a mix and match for this project which was done at CIMA with Padmini Chairing this project in 'Report Leadership' with 6 Senior Accountants 3 of whom were Toastmasters as well. The Project was a success and was commended by Accountants and Toastmasters alike as well as the Public who were invited to learn more about Report Leadership - Tomorrows Reporting Today - a CIMA Global initiative.

At the same time you need to serve your Division a Club Officer and an Area Governor as well as Sponsor or Mentor a New Club for your Division. Padmini was the Sponsor and Mentor for the New Toastmasters Club at the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing which was Chartered on May 1, 2009 which too was initiated by the CIMA Toastmasters club as the Sponsor Club.

Padmini says you need to have the passion to be able to mentor and sponsor others to join toastmasters - and once they join to encourage them to empower themselves to gain confidence and move up the ladder and enjoy the journey whilst getting to the top.

She says that once you become a Toastmaster you become addicted and love the camaraderie and fellowship of the Toastmasters fraternity which consists of many different people from many walks of life.