Tharaka Amarasena, the Manager of the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), Anuradhapura branch was recently recognised by Toastmasters International as its District 82 Toastmaster of the Year for 2017/18. The award was presented at the district conference held in Chennai, India. The ceremony is the leading event of the Toastmasters District 82 calendar. Toastmasters District 82 features over 15,000 members from Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka. The award recognises the recipient’s outstanding achievements in the areas of membership-building and retention, education and training, commitment and support, public relations, and leadership. Achieving the stipulated goals set by Toastmasters District 82 is also an important factor that is considered. Amarasena is a dual-member of the CSE Toastmasters and Anuradhapura Toastmasters Clubs. The recognition was offered for his work conducted through the Anuradhapura Toastmasters Club, especially in the North Central and Northern Provinces. Commenting on the recognition, Amarasena stated that he is proud and delighted to receive international recognition for his work in Toastmasters and said that he strongly believes that Toastmasters is an effective means for communication and leadership training which help achieve personal and professional goals. He also went on to acknowledge the support of his family, Toastmasters colleagues, the team at CSE, and friends who enabled him to achieve positive outcomes through his work at Toastmasters. Amarasena was the Charter President of CSE Toastmasters Club in 2015 and was subsequently appointed the Branch Manager of the CSE Anuradhapura branch. He then endeavored to continue his work in Toastmasters by joining the Anuradhapura Toastmasters Club while maintaining an association with the CSE Toastmasters Club as a dual-member of both clubs. Congratulating the award recipient, CSE CEO Rajeeva Bandaranaike said: “CSE congratulates Tharaka on his achievement and we are encouraged by CSE employees actively using Toastmasters to develop leadership and public speaking skills. We are proud that a dual-member of the CSE Toastmasters Club, and one of our very first Toastmasters, achieved this international honour.”