Toastmasters triumph in Kandy

Two Division leaders: TM Saman Walisinghe and TM Shivaharan Arumugam

Once the Tranquil Hills of Kandy were set as the hosts for the Annual Year End Conference for Divisions J and F, that also set the tone for the “The Coolest Conference of the Year”, held end of last month.

Titled “Joining Forces” of the District 82 of Toastmasters International, as promised delivered an educational and an entertaining conference.

Such an entertaining conference also gave four winners, two each from International Speech Contest (ISC) and Table Topics (TT) contest, where speakers progressed to the semi-final of this national-level contest.

The contest exhibited the sheer brilliance of the cream-of-the-crop speakers of the two divisions was on full display.

The two Division Directors of J & F, TM Saman Walisinghe and TM Shivaharan Arumugam, respectively, kicked off the proceedings with their opening remarks.

Followed by that was the main proceedings, the ISC of Division J, conducted by the Contest Master, TM Ruwan Adikari, setting the tone for the entirety of the day.

Shehan Karunathilaka, the award-winning Author of Seven Moons of Maali Almeida and recipient of the Man Booker Prize in 2022, keynoted on the title - “Why Writers Shouldn’t Speak”.