Sri Lankan Junior Chefs Club Elects 2008-2009 Committee

The new committee of the SLJCC was elected this week by a large gathering of their fellow Junior Chef members at the Club Hotel Dolphin; and while many of Negombo's leading Executive, Pastry and Sous Chefs were on hand to encourage and congratulate the new appointees, the main drive and excitement came from the many ideas expressed by the new committee members.

The Club Hotel Dolphin generously hosted the 2nd AGM for the club and many thanks must go to Chef Trevor and his team.
In his opening remarks, the Founder and Chairman of the SLJCC, Chef Alan Orreal thanked the outgoing committee for their tireless effort in launching the club in Sri Lanka and went on to note many of the clubs recent successes.

He also explained the current goals and objectives of the SLJCC, set out a detailed action plan forthe committee and outlined the new structure, which includes a mentor chef for each of the Junior Chef committee positions.
An honest and frank newly elected President Uditha Ganewathiha from Club Hotel Dolphin had this to say, “We have a lot of work to continue with, as the first committee was very active, I personally feel that I will need to learn a lot in a short period in order to be an effective President for the members of the SLJCC. I look forward to all the challenges that this role will bring.” Uditha will have Executive Chef Trevor Fernando as his mentor.

Ishara Fernando (his mentor Sous Chef Dinesh Samarakkody) of Jetwing Beach retains his seat as the VP and he made this observation,” I had long discussions with the Chairman and we both agreed that remaining as the VP will provide greater stability for the new committee members and the continuation of current projects.”

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Continuation: SLJCC Elects 2008-2009 Committee

Pastry Chefs have come forward in large numbers this year and this is reflected in the appointment of the two senior committee positions being taken by Pastry Chef Suresh Shanaka of the Blue Oceanic for Education; and a long time supporter of Junior Chefs, Rosman Perera who is a Sous Chef at the Club Hotel Dolphin for Membership.

Manesh Silva from Sri Lankan Catering remains on the committee as Communications and Web Development guru.

While the all-important role of Social Activities and Responsibility has fallen to Priyantha Perera and his mentor Pastry Sous Chef Leelananda from Browns Beach.

Chairman Message

As the chairman of the newly formed Sri Lankan Junior Chefs Club (SLJCC), and on behalf of all the Club members, I welcome you to our SLJCC blog. We hope you will find interesting posts here to come back more often, and perhaps you can bookmark this site for easy reference to our blog.

Part of our aims in setting up this blog is to provide as much information for junior chefs in Sri Lanka; details of our monthly and regularly held events/gatherings where junior chefs can network; membership drives to encourage more aspiring young chefs to join the club; recruitment opportunities for junior chefs; overseas participations in culinary competitions/forums; and among many other things.

It was with great pleasure that I was given the opportunity to participate at the first WACS Asia Junior Forum held mid-August in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. As the chairman of SLJCC, I was able to share the importance of setting up the SLJCC, our vision, mission and our future programmes at the forum to my fellow peers from other countries. It was through this attendance and participation that I realise that SLJCC has so much going, and so much more potentials to further develop the club.

Developing new skills/techniques and trainings will always be a part of the junior chefs journey. Thus, I hope the Executive and the Management levels from hotels, culinary schools and restaurants, can help to spread the word and encourage your apprentices, trainees, and junior chefs to join SLJCC club.
On behalf of the SLJCC club, my heartfelt gratitude to my chef and Club Founder, Mr Alan Orreal, for agreeing to be our advisor to get the club started and for his constant guidance. Without him steering the SLJCC in the right direction from the beginning, we would not have come thus far today.

So, come on and join SLJCC. Simply click on the link on the left sidebar and we will send you the information and membership package. If you are an employer genuinely interested in developing young talents in this country and giving our junior chefs the opportunity to work at your establishments, please email us as we would only be able to go forward with your participation.

We are also seeking sponsorships for SLJCC. We will be holding regular culinary challenges/competitions to raise the culinary skills of our junior chefs for the international culinary arena. Your sponsorships (monetary or products) will provide the much needed support for SLJCC to mould junior chefs for tomorrow.

Culinary regards
Eranga Perera
Chairman SLJCC