Biographical sketch of the district governor Deshabandu Lion Ananda Balasooriya MJF, JP

Lion Ananda Balasooriya was inducted as a Charter member of Lions Club of Talangama Malabe in the year 1984.

In the year 1985/1986 he was the Treasurer of the club and afterwards he was appointed as the Lion Tamer of the club for three consecutive years. Year 1997/1998 he was the Club President and he was awarded 100% Club Presidents excellence award by the Lions Clubs International. Since 1984 to date he is a member of the Club board of directors.

For the first time, in year 1999/2000, District Governor Lion Roiston De Silva has taken him to his cabinet, as a District Chairman, and he was awarded top ten District Chairman's award in that year.

In the year 2000/2001, District Governor Lion Dharma Dheerasinghe and Year 2001/2002 District Governor Lion Upali Edirisinghe, has appointed him as a Zone Chairman, for two consecutive years in their cabinets, and he won the most outstanding Zone Chairman First Runner up Award in those two years.

In the year 2002/2003 District Governor Lion Ashoka Premarathne has taken him as a Region Co-ordinator in his cabinet and he was awarded the best region co-ordinator winner award by the District Governor.

In the year 2003/2004 District governor Lion Soma Edirisinghe appointed him as a Region Chairman in her cabinet and he was awarded as the best Region Chairperson winner award by the District governor.

In the year 2004/2005 District governor Lion Kassapa Mahendra De Silva and year 2005/2006 District governor Lion Professor Luxhmen wijeyeweera appointed him as a District governor's programme Co-ordinator and he was awarded District governor's Appreciation award in both years.

In the year 2006/2007 District Governor Lion Amara Dissanayake has recognized Lion Ananda Balasooriya's talents, trustworthiness, and devotion to lion ism , and appointed him as the cabinet treasurer in his cabinet. Lion Ananda has always assured that his duties were transparent and in good faith of the District. Accordingly District governor, the cabinet and the lions of the District 306C1 have accepted his job well done and further he was awarded excellence awards by the international president and the District governor for his performance.

In the year 2007/2008 District governor Lion Hemasiri De Silva appointed Lion Ananda Balasooriya as the Deputy cabinet secretary in his cabinet and awarded Deputy cabinet secretary's excellence award.

In the year 2008/2009 District governor Diresh Hettiarachchi appointed Lion Ananda Balasooriya as the additional cabinet secretary (Strengthening of new clubs and week clubs) and secretary-Convention steering committee 2009. He was highly appreciated and well recognized by Governor Diresh Hettiarachchi for arranging a very colourful District Convention with the support of the steering committee. The same year with contest, he was elected for the office of first vice governor for the year 2009/2010.

At the district convention held on 23rd May 2010 , he was elected to the office of District Governor of District 306 C1, for the lionistic year 201 0 12011, with 100% affirmative votes.

In addition to that, year 2001/2002 Lion Ananda was awarded International Presidents certificate and the award for membership development .In the year 2002/2003 he was awarded International presidents certificate and the award for extension of new clubs. Lion Ananda was awarded with international presidents appreciation certificates in year 2003/2004, 2004/2005, 2005/2006,2006/2007, and 2007/2008.He also attended several international conventions ie. USA, Japan, Hong Kong and Australia with his lion lady Seetha.

Lion Ananda is a Melvin Jones Fellow and life member of Sri Lanka United Nations Friendship Organization; and also he is a ‘justice of peace for all Island’. He is a hospital committee member of both, Colombo south teaching hospital and the castle street maternity hospital. He was a patron of Malabe "Eksath Welanda Sangamaya" and life member of Sri Lanka Buddhist media and social development foundation, a member of Temple development committee and several other social service organizations in the area and he is also a businessman, Social Worker and a landed proprietor.

Lion Ananda studied in Christian college - Kotte. After completion of G.C.E (AIL) he joined Singapore institute of Marine engineering, and he got his diploma as a Marine Engineering Designer, after completion of his diploma he worked as a marine engineering Designer in "TAOS" limited Colombo, Ceylon ship yards limited Trincomalee and Ceylon Fisheries Corporation . In 1977 he joined "Friedrich" Refrigeration industries in Malaysia as an air-condition designer. And he returned back to Sri Lanka in 1983 and established his own establishment by the name of "Rich Food" (PVT) Limited-Malabe and he is the Chairman and the Managing Director of the company.

Lion Ananda is married to Lady Lion Seetha and she too is a very active Lion in the district. She is a member of Lions club of Colombo Serendib and she was the club president in the year 2005/2006. In that year district Governor Lion Prof. Luxhmen Wijeyeweera awarded her as the best club president of the district, and the Lions Club of Colombo Serendib was the best club in the district. She was the treasurer of Lion ladies association of the district for three consecutive years. Lion Seetha is an executive director of Rich Food (Pvt) Ltd. She is a Member of the Hospital committee of Castle Street Hospital for Women.

Lion Ananda and Lion Seetha are blessed with two sons Dhanesh and Dinush. Both of them were Charter members of Leo club of Talangama Malabe. Elder son Dhanesh has completed his Bachelor’s degree in "Deakin" university, Melbourne , Australia and at present he is the finance manager of world leading company by the name of Fonterra Brand Australia (Pvt) Ltd. Younger son Dinush is also studying at "Deakin" university, Melbourne , Australia for his Bachelors Degree.