Mahendra Amarasuriya
Past International President
Mahendra Amarasuriya
Mahendra Amarasuriya of Colombo, Sri Lanka, was elected president of The International Association of Lions Clubs at the association's 90th International Convention, held in Chicago, Illinois, USA, July 2-6, 2007.
He is a graduate of the University of Ceylon with a Bachelor of Science degree. He has participated in the Top Management Course at the International Institute of Management in Lausanne, Switzerland. He has also acquired considerable experience in the field of management over the last 40 years as a director and chairperson of many prestigious companies in Sri Lanka.
Past International President Amarasuriya is the chairperson of the Commercial Bank of Ceylon Limited and three other blue chip companies, as well as a board member of many other blue chip companies in Sri Lanka. He is also a past chairperson of the International Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka, Employers' Federation of Ceylon, the Employees' Trust Fund Board, the Institute of Management of Sri Lanka and the National Agribusiness Council of Sri Lanka.
A charter member of the Lions Club of Galle (pronounced Gaul), he has held many offices within the association, including district governor from 1978 to 1979, council chairperson from 1979 to 1980 and international director from 1991 to 1993.
In recognition of his service to the association, he has received numerous awards, including many membership awards, the Master Key Award, eight International President's Certificates of Appreciation, eight International President's Awards, the Leadership Award and the Ambassador of Good Will Award, the highest honor bestowed upon association members. He has also received the 100% District Governor Award, the Extension Award and the 15-Year Perfect Attendance Award. He is a Progressive Melvin Jones Fellow.
Past International President Amarasuriya resides with his wife, Lion Kushlani, also a Melvin Jones Fellow, in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
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The pounds of newspapers that did not end up in landfills because Lions in Prescott, Arizona rise before dawn to collect, sort and recycle newspapers from local residents. Lions in Prescott have been recycling newspapers for more than 30 years.
