Best speaker Magazine Issue 2 - December 2017 | Page 43

YASHMI JAYAWEERA
UNIVERSITY OF SRI JAYAWARDANAPURA
Being a Sinhala compere and a debater throughout out my school life, public
speaking became a very challenging yet interesting experience in my life.With the
bond and the humble encouragement by my Gavel family at University of Sri
Jayewardenepura,it has now become my passion.
In my public speaking journey, Best Speaker 2017 will be forever treasured as
a platform where I was given the opportunity to be myself genuinely and share
my story with a talented and wisely selected audience who too had outstandingly
inspiring speeches to share. This contest,being my second public speaking contest,
really helped me to improve on my untapped speaking skills.
I humbly cherish the achievement of mine in Best Speaker journey as a finalist
and appreciate the attempt of the University of Kelaniya Gavel Club for the
recognition given to us in the public speaking arena.
AMALINI FERNANDO
UNIVERSITY OF KELANIYA
The story behind my journey to the final stage of Best Speaker 2017 is a group
of friends who encouraged me to try. Every step so far has been amazing and
I’m grateful to my friends who pushed me to speak my heart out and reach for
the stars. Indeed I feel privileged to be in the finals of Best Speaker 2017. Facing
tough competition from the beginning of the contest has helped me immensely
to grow as a speaker.
I believe that ‘haphazard’ & ‘jumbled’ though they often are, our ideas are
the foundation of development in ages to come. Best Speaker is a platform
for everyone to begin changing the world. For me, it is also a place to share a
message which I deeply care about. I hope my audience will also be able to learn
from my experience and enjoy my speech.
Kudos to the organizing team for the amazing contest. Good wishes to my fellow finalists. Whoever may
emerge the champion, I hope we all will be able to touch the hearts of our audience and change the world in our
own little ways.
CHIRANTHI SENANAYAKE
UNIVERSITY OF COLOMBO
Expression is perhaps the most powerful skill that is possessed by mankind,
where we capture through words the essence an experience we call life. Though
every man and woman is endowed with the capacity to express by both nature
and nurture, effective expression that speaks to the human soul and enlivens the
intellect is not possessed by everyone. It is a talent that must be developed through
consistent engagement and practice. That is why platforms such as Best Speaker
are invaluable, as they allow those enthusiastic about public speaking to harness,
polish and demonstrate exceptional capacities for effective expression.
Such opportunities for university students to speak from their hearts are indeed
few and I commend the University of Kelaniya Gavel Club for organizing Best
Speaker annually together with their Career Guidance Unit. It is truly exciting to
be a finalist at this year’s contest and I thank the Organisers of Best Speaker 2017
for having me in the competition. I also wish my fellow Finalists the best of luck and congratulate each and every
participant as well as semi-finalists of the contest for being a part of this year’s Best Speaker experience.
BEST SPEAKER MAGAZINE 2017
43