100 Meetings, 100 Lives Changed: Central Link Toastmasters, a legacy in the making

The Central Link Toastmasters Club reached a momentous stepping stone in its remarkable journey, celebrating its 100th meeting in grand style. The event was named “Central Centennial,” reflecting the grandiosity of the occasion and was held on December 29th, 2024, at the Water Springs Hotel in Kandy. The celebration brought together current members, charter members, founding members, distinguished Toastmasters from other esteemed clubs around Kandy, and guests, all gathered to honour the club’s unforgettable journey towards this significant achievement.
The evening was set in motion with a warm welcome from the club president, TM Anuththara Gunathilake, who reminisced about how a small group of passionate young individuals, seeking to make the most of the 2020 lockdown period, gave rise to what is now an exceptional and continuously growing Toastmasters club, known for its unique energy and youthful spirit. “For me, Central Link is not just a club; it’s the place that changed my life!” she said, her voice filled with emotion.

The event continued with the club president herself serving as the Toastmaster of the Day, guiding the meeting proceedings with delight and enthusiasm. The 100th meeting was honoured by the presence of distinguished Toastmaster TM Noorul Munawara from the Kandy Toastmasters Club, who served as the general evaluator for the evening.

The atmosphere of the meeting was set by an engaging and emotional round-robin session in which members shared their love and gratitude for the club. “The memories I have here are what keep me alive!” said one girl, tears welling in her eyes. The prepared speech session was equally impactful, featuring three exceptional speakers who took the audience from gasps of emotion to bursts of laughter.

As the evening progressed with the table topics session, a fun game, and evaluations, the meeting drew to a close, marked by heartwarming words from distinguished Toastmaster Munawara. She expressed her heartfelt wishes for the club and shared her hopes to attend the 200th meeting in the future. “It’s incredible to see how far you’ve come. This 100th meeting is a toast to the legacy you’ve built as a club, and I hope you will carry it through the decades to come,” was her ending note.

The spotlight moment of the event arrived after the meeting, as a video montage of the club’s unforgettable journey, carefully crafted by the Vice President of Public Relations of the club, TM Dulain, was played. As soon as the video came to life, the whole audience was taken back through a few years to where it all started, and as the video unfolded, an emotional and unforgettable memory lane, decorated with precious memories built throughout a century of meetings, unraveled before the eyes of the audience. The video came to an end with a deeply heart-touching phrase: “Central Link – never ever just a club,” which was further confirmed by the happy tears veiling the eyes of almost every member.

In addition to the speeches and video montage, the event featured a musical performance by club members, showcasing their multi-talented nature. The performance marked an unforgettable moment in the evening as everyone sang together, waving their phone flashlights in unison. The celebration concluded with a toast to the next 100 meetings and beyond, as members and guests joined in fellowship over a delicious dinner.

This landmark event not only marked an important milestone in Central Link’s history but also served as a testament to the club’s mission of nurturing confident communicators and leaders, especially among the youth of Sri Lanka, who will soon shape the country’s future.

As the attendees left the venue, the energy and emotion of the evening lingered in their hearts, with a shared promise to continue walking together toward new heights and to carry on the unbreakable legacy of Central Link Toastmasters.

Courtesy of the Central Link Toastmasters Club