The Intra University Best Speaker Contest 2012, organized by the Gavel Club of the University of Kelaniya in collaboration with the Career Guidance Unit was held on Thursday, the 29th of November, 2012 at the Sri Dharmaloka Convocation Hall of the University of Kelaniya. Since the initiation of the Gavel Club of the University of [...]

Feeds Editorials Times Online

The Sundaytimes Sri Lanka

Intra University Best Speaker Contest – 2012

View(s):

The Intra University Best Speaker Contest 2012, organized by the Gavel Club of the University of Kelaniya in collaboration with the Career Guidance Unit was held on Thursday, the 29th of November, 2012 at the Sri Dharmaloka Convocation Hall of the University of Kelaniya.

Since the initiation of the Gavel Club of the University of Kelaniya, the first Gavel Club of South Asia, in 2004, Inter and Intra University Contests have been held in mate years making this event the 4th consecutive Intra University Best Speaker Contest. The event is not only a platform for the university community to develop their public speaking skills but also a successful step in fulfilling the objective of enhancing the communication and leadership skills of undergraduates, thereby empowering undergraduates to gain recognition as good communicators with strong personalities.

The preliminaries of the Intra University Best Speaker Contest 2012 was held on the 6th of November 2012 with the participation of 22 contestants representing the Faculties of Humanities, Social Sciences, Commerce and Management and Science from which 12 were selected to compete at the semi final round which was held on the 18th of November.

Given the immense acclaim the Inter University Best Speaker Contest 2011 received, the Organizing Committee of the IUBSC 2012, headed by the Project Chairperson, Thrimal Kateepearachchi, had a lot to live up to, , but met the challenge to finally deliver an event that was head and shoulders above all, from the quality of the speeches of the finalists to the grandeur of the fireworks that lit the skies.
The Grand Finals which saw the 6 finalists competing in a battle for the crown for the Best Speaker was truly an extravaganza worth beholding. With an audience of approximately 450, including lecturers, Toastmasters, representatives of the corporate sector, past Gaveliers, undergraduates and school students, the event was graced by the presence of Prof. Sarath Amunugama, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya as the Chief Guest and Mr. William Linsenmeyer, the political officer of the US Embassy, as the Guest of Honour. Prof. Amunugama, in his speech, recognized this event as an opportunity for the undergraduates to develop their skills, while the Guest of Honour, Mr. Linsenmeyer, applauded the bravery of the contestants stating that according to studies, the fear of public speaking ranked higher than the fear of death itself!

In times that university undergraduates are considered destructive elements that only cause havoc across the country, the six finalists who set the stage ablaze by their booming energy, crisp words and powerful messages, succeeded in making a clear statement to the society of the true potential of present university undergraduates as leaders who could guide this country in its path to success.
The conclusion of the Intra University Best Speaker Contest 2012 was marked with the coronation of Minoli Wijetunga of the Faculty of Science, who battled outs very tough competition by the 1st runner-up Lavanga Swarnasinghe of the Faculty of Humanities and the 2nd runner-up Raween Perera of the Faculty of Commerce and Management, to be adjudged the ‘Best Speaker – 2012’.

The extremely positive reception and the accolades the event received bore witness that the IUBSC 2012 carried the legacy of the workforce of Gaveliers of the University of Kelaniya, who shed blood, sweat and tears throughout these 8 years, with due honour by maintaining its position as one of the most prominent events in the University Calendar of Sri Lanka and establishing the Best Speaker Contest of the University of Kelaniya as a paramount arena that celebrates the true jubilance of public speaking.

Article by:

Shakila Perera and Shadika Wazir
Gavel club
University of Kelaniya




Share This Post

DeliciousDiggGoogleStumbleuponRedditTechnoratiYahooBloggerMyspace
comments powered by Disqus

Advertising Rates

Please contact the advertising office on 011 - 2479521 for the advertising rates.