New leaders appointed to lead Toastmasters International in Sri Lanka and the region
View(s):Toastmasters International, a nonprofit educational organisation that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of clubs, has appointed new leaders in Sri Lanka to drive the movement forward.
From left to right: Club Growth Director - Nisal Weerakoon, DTM; District Director – Noorul Munawwara, DTM; Regional Advisor – Region 13 Toastmasters International – Sudash Liyanage, DTM; and Programme Quality Director – Srianthie Salgado, DTM
Formed in 2006, District 82 represented clubs across India and Sri Lanka. Each year, leaders from the movement rise up and take the helm of the district. This year, Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) Noorul Munawwara was elected as District Director (Director, Sri Lanka). She is a Deputy General Manager – Project and Heavy Maintenance Branch of Ceylon Electricity Board. She is also a member of Kandy, Hill Capital, Killinochchi and Matale Toastmasters Clubs, and has been a Toastmaster since 2006.
Supporting her is a diverse and capable team, comprising the Programme Quality Director, DTM Srianthie Salgado who is a Consultant University of Moratuwa / Academic Coordinator Open University and her club is Lyceum Nugegoda Toastmasters; Club Growth Director, DTM Nisal Weerakoon is a Business Consultant, Sysco Labs SriLanka and his clubs are Voice of Colombo, and Start-up Colombo Toastmasters. Others in the team are Administration Manager, DTM Shehara Dissanayake of Siyane and Kadawatha Toastmasters Club; TM Sarani Wijerathne of IESL Toastmasters Club; and PR Manager, DTM Mafaz Ifharm of Marketers and Start-up Colombo Toastmasters Club; DTM Sarma Mahalingam of The Colombo and Marine Toastmasters Club. A further 47 officers were appointed to support the District, including 8 Division Directors, namely: DTM Manik Dissanayake, DTM Nuwan Chathuranga, DTM Upali Tissera, DTM Zafraz Lameer, DTM Probodini Senavirathne, DTM Shazuli Raheem, DTM Chaturanga Ratnasinghe, and TM Kapila Mithrarathna.
Bringing further acclaim to Sri Lanka was the appointment of DTM Sudash Liyanage as a Regional Advisor for Region 13. He is past District Director of District 82 and is a member of BCIS and Hayleys Toastmasters Club, and is the Head of Environmental Science at Hayleys Agriculture Holdings Ltd, and is the first Sri Lankan Toastmaster to hold this office.