New Charter President at Rotary Club of Kalpitiya Peninsular

‘Charter Night’ of the Rotary Club of Kalpitiya Peninsula was held at the Dinuda Villas in Kalpitiya on Tuesday, 17th June, 2025 under the direction of Wasanths Withanage, the President elect of Rotary Club of Kalpitiya Peninsular(2024/2025).

The Chief Guest of this grand event was Surshena Ranayunga, District Governor 2025/2025 Sri Lanka and Maldives and the Guest of Honour was the Senior DIG Ajith Rohana.

Rotary is the first service organisation in the world started in 1905. Currently, Rotary is extended to more than 200 countries with more than 1.4 million members. Rotary is a non-profitable organisation. In Sri Lanka and Maldives, Rotarians have 74 clubs, including the newly chartered Club, RC Kalpitiya Peninsula. The membership is currently 2200.

Wasanths Withanage resigned from his former club, Rotary Club of Kandy Victoria to continue his role of Charter President of the newly formed Rotary Club of Kalpitiya Peninsula.
‘Over the past year and this year, I have had the privilege of introducing over 50 new members to Rotary District 3220. It has been a great honor to contribute to the growth of Rotary and to serve our beloved motherland by working toward a better and more enriched quality of life for our communities. I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to my parent club, Rotary Club of Kandy Metropolitan, whose encouragement and support inspired me to charter not one, but two new clubs for our district’ said Wasantha at the installation ceremony held in Kalpitiya.

His work has already inspired many in his hometown, in Kandy, and now in Kalpitiya — to rise, to serve, and to lead. Rtn. Wasantha Kumara embodies what it means to be a modern Rotarian — globally aware, locally impactful, and always ready to take action. His journey tells that no matter where you come from, with the right values and vision, you can create ripples of change that touch countless lives.

Born in the city of Rathnapura, Rtn. Wasantha's journey has been one of resilience, achievement, and service. He began his education at the well-known Joseph Vaz College in Wennappuwa, where he developed a deep-rooted interest in sports — especially boxing, which would later become both his passion and platform for global representation. Following his school years, he pursued higher education at the prestigious University of Colombo, earning a Special Degree in International Relations with Second Upper Class Honors.

Driven by his thirst for knowledge, he went on to complete a Master’s Degree in International Relations from the same university — an academic journey that reflects not just excellence, but a clear vision of leadership and diplomacy. Simultaneously, his passion for sports never faded. Rtn. Wasantha pursued a Diploma in Sports Sciences at the University of Semmelweis in Budapest, Hungary — a leading European institution in physical education. Armed with this knowledge, he went on to achieve global recognition as a Three-Star Coach accredited by the International Boxing Association (IBA). He represented Sri Lanka as an International Technical Official (ITO) and played a proud role as a Coach at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, one of the highest honors for any sports professional. Beyond academics and sports, he also ventured into entrepreneurship, founding Dinuda Resort in 2007.

With his passion for hospitality and regional development, this resort quickly became a symbol of success, bringing economic activity and tourism to the area. His leadership extends into various community roles — he has served as the Chairman of the Boxing Referees and Judges Commission of Sri Lanka, Vice President of the Sri Lanka Boxing Association, Chairman of the Kalpitiya Hotel Association, Chairman of the Kundasale Sports Association, and Assistant Treasurer of the Kundasale Trade Association. He is also a visiting lecturer at the University of Peradeniya, where he imparts his knowledge to future leaders in the fields of international relations and sports management.

 Now, while all these achievements are remarkable, what truly elevates Rtn. Wasantha is his spirit of service, which led him to Rotary. His Rotary journey began at the Rotary Club of Kandy Metropolitan, where he actively engaged in service activities and held multiple positions on the Board of Directors. His energy, leadership, and commitment were immediately evident. But he wasn’t content with just serving — he believed in expanding the reach of Rotary to underserved areas. In 2024, he chartered the Rotary Club of Kandy Victoria, taking on the mantle of Charter President. Under his capable leadership, the club completed numerous successful service projects in its very first year — uplifting communities, supporting education, empowering youth, and promoting health and sustainability. Just as that journey concluded, his vision continued to grow.

‘Founding one Rotary club is a legacy; founding two within such a short period is inspirational. As you may already know, establishing a new club requires not only dedication but also trust, leadership, and a deep understanding of Rotary’s mission. Rtn. Wasantha has demonstrated all these qualities and more. His ability to bring together individuals from various sectors, identify community needs, and design sustainable service projects is remarkable. More importantly, he lives the Rotary motto — ‘Service Above Self’ — not just in words, but through consistent action. Whether in his professional career, academic work, or sporting achievements, Rtn. Wasantha has always believed in building others, sharing knowledge, and creating opportunities for the next generation’ said District Governor Rtn. Sushena.

A special note of appreciation goes to District Governor Rtn. Sushena, District Governor-Elect Rtn. Delvin Perera, and Rtn. Ajith Jayawickrama for their invaluable support and guidance throughout the chartering process of both clubs.