Tharaka makes Cinnamon Lakeside proud at Commonwealth Youth Forum

Tharaka Appuhamy of the Learning and Development team at Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo yet again proved the calibre of the hotel’s workforce by being the only Sri Lankan to represent the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) at the recently held Commonwealth Youth Forum in Sri Lanka. Tharaka has a long standing history of commitment to humanitarian work and has been an active volunteer at the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society since 2004. His exemplary contribution to the upliftment of the local community gained him recognition from the IFRC, based in Geneva. Thus, he was given the prestigious opportunity of being one of only two representatives of the IFRC at the Commonwealth Youth Forum held recently in Hambantota.
Tharaka was an active member of the group of youth gathered from all the countries of the Commonwealth who lead the discussion and compilation of a ‘Development Agenda’ which was subsequently presented to all the Heads of State of the Commonwealth Nations. The topics of discussion ranged from Reconciliation and Social Cohesion to Generating Quality Youth Employment and Gender Equality for which policy debates and motions resulted in the finalisation of topic based reports.
It is noteworthy that Tharaka was the only delegate from Sri Lanka at the Commonwealth Youth Forum who represented the hospitality industry. The future development of the country is highly dependent on the sustainable growth of the tourism and hospitality industries and young professionals such as Tharaka have a vital role to play. Working at Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo, Tharaka with the collaboration of Sri Lanka Red Cross Society – Gampaha branch, initiated the creation of the first Accidental Emergency Risk Management and Occupational First Aid Team in the hotel industry. Comprising of twelve associates, the first aid team is equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to perform first aid in the workplace.
The future of the John Keells Group is closely linked to the future of its people and all associates’ personal progression is a vital component in achieving Group results. Speaking of his experiences, Tharaka says, “Young professionals should open their eyes to the opportunities for humanitarian work and strive to make volunteering a lifestyle.” Tharaka commends the support he receives from the management and his peers at Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo, which allows him to balance his work life with his humanitarian efforts. The future promises many successes for Tharaka, and his commitments to uplift society are indeed exemplary.