K.H. Lasantha Goonewardena gets Montreal appointment | Sunday Observer

K.H. Lasantha Goonewardena gets Montreal appointment

16 July, 2022

The Board of Directors of the Lions Clubs International, on their 104th Annual Convention held in Montreal Canada appointed Lion Lasantha Goonewardena as a Leo Club Program Advisory Panelist for 2022-2024 two year term.

Leo Clubs are home to Lions Clubs International’s youngest members, whose insights and actions are invaluable to further the mission of Lions International.

Joining a Leo club can bring young people a world of opportunity- from developing crucial life skills and making change in your community, to building lifelong connections with like-minded individuals around the world.

Advisory Panellist Lasantha is a product of Royal College, Colombo a premier educational institute in Sri Lanka. He was a leader of outstanding quality even while at school. His desire to serve his fellow beings and obligations towards the less fortunate was quite evident.

The crowning glory of his school career was when he mobilised his colleagues in school to build 78 houses with all amenities which was named “ Rajasisugama” Model Village.

Even to date this projects stands out as the largest ever service project by any school in the island. In recognition of his outstanding leadership late President J.R. Jayewerdena decorated young Lasantha with the National Leadership Award.

Lasantha was inducted as a Lion in the year 1993 as a member of the Lions Club of Colombo Mid City where he held all the important positions.

He was invited to the District Cabinet in the year 2001 as the District Chairman in charge of the Leos where he extended 25 new Leo Clubs and brought about a revival in the Leo activities in the District

In 2006 Lasantha was elected as District Governor of Lions District 306 C2, with an over helming majority.

Major service activities under Lasantha’s leadership was the donation of 130,000 mosquito nets, distribution of over 200,000 pairs of spectacles and 1000 Inter Ocular Lenses, over 600 wheel chairs, major multi service projects, construction of Sinha Arana Elders Home, eye unit at the Homagama National Hospital, 5 vocational training centres at various parts of the country, and many other service activities.

For his contribution towards the cause of Lionism he has been recognised fifteen times by International Presidents and is a only recipient in Sri Lanka of the Key of Nation Award and many other District, Multiple District, and International awards too numerous to mention.

He was the proud recipient of most prestigious “Lion of the year Award”, and has been recognised as the most outstanding District Governor in the world in Membership Development in 2006/2007.

Lasantha has his share of International exposure by participating at international conventions and leadership programs in Korea, USA , UK, Australia, Canada, Japan, Thailand, Germany, China, Taiwan, India and Hong Kong. This experience will no doubt stand in good stead in his Lionistic endeavours.

He is a Melvin Jones Fellow and Graduate of the Faculty Development Institute.

Advisory Panellist P. D. G. Lasantha was the Advisor to the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka and was Advisor to the Minister of National Policies, Economic Affairs, and Youth Affairs.

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