Stage is set for teen dramatist to shine brighter

Chaminda PERERA

COLOMBO: Devindra Pramith Wickremasinghe of Dehiwela who showed an exceptional performance at the All Island Drama Contest organised by the Education Ministry is an honour to his alma mater, Athulathmudali Maha Vidyalaya, Mount Lavinia.

Since his debut performance on stage as the best supporting actor of Paukarayo, a children’s drama at the

 school’s arts festival 2004, Pramith has taken vast strides forward winning many accolades and awards to his credit.

“The Ranga Prathibha Arts Festival organised by the school was the key to my success. It enlivened my aesthetic and artistic talents,” said Devindra, 18.

He took part in three dramas at the 2004 School’s arts festival and bagged awards for the best impromptu acting and singing.

“The 2004 Arts Festival was a turning point in my artistic career. I took part in three dramas in contention for the best drama award and bagged award for the best Script writer for Aswenna, a children’s drama.”

He won the first place in the All Island Drama and Essay Contest jointly organised by the Bribery Commission of Sri Lanka, the USAID and Janawabodha Kendraya.

He says his parents, teachers, principal and colleagues support him tremendously. “The school’s drama teacher Chamika Hathlahawatte and music teacher Ruwan Jayasena helped harness my creative and aesthetic talents,” he said.

His drama, Hetath Kaluwarai and Maru Race Eka bagged the first and second places at the All Island Drama Contest organised by the Sri Jayewardenepura University.

It was, he said the best achievement in his career and one of the happiest days in his life. “It was an amazing experience,” he smiled. Devindra who is siting for the O/L examination this year, recently bagged the best actor award for Ithihasayen Minihek at the All Island Drama Contest, organised by Royal College, Colombo.

“The O/L examination is not a snag to my aesthetic activities. I have never missed studies for drama practices.”

He laments on the poor public response towards drama. People prefer television and cinema to drama which fosters and nurtures one’s creative abilities.

He proved himself determined to succeed in drama by winning the first place in a street drama contest jointly organised by the Dehiwela-Mount Lavinia Municipal Council and the district 302 C Lions Club.

“My teachers and parents are pillars of my success. I would not have achieved all these without their guidance. They are people whom I respect,” he said.

He took drama as a subject for the O/L examination. “The study of drama lasts a lifetime and it is a complex subject,” said Devindra who also bagged the award for best producer and folk songs at the college’s art festivals and many other contests at inter-school and national level.

“I have always enjoyed participating in dramas. This is nothing unusual. My intention is to tread on this path as far as I can,” Devindra said.

Future leaders for Future World Leaders Summit

SUMMIT: Several students from various schools have been selected to participate in the 2007 Presidential Classroom World Leaders Summit. Fifty six Sri Lankan teenagers have been selected to attend the 2007 Future World Leaders summit this month.

The Sri Lankan delegates are Rahul Edirisinghe, Umeshi Rajeendra, Brindini Selvarajah, Nafeesa Jafferjee, Naveendran Rajendran, Sindhiya Soundaraj, Rodric Francis, Rashmin Sappideen, Rushenka Jayah, Kulani Panapitiya, Sakina Esufally, Seyanga de Silva, Nadeesha Seneviratne, Ranmali Hatharasinghe, Janith Rupasinghe, Shohan Atapattu, Hassanally Esufally and Shalaka Wijeratne (Asian International School), Dewruk Rajapakse (American National College), Sonalie Bogollagama, Prabhashi Wijayakumara, Dhusanthan Ravindran, Ethan Sivarajah, Josiena Chokatte, Mitheshe Vidanagamage and Iufa Mohamed (British School in Colombo), Tarika Jayaratne, Shavesh Mendis, Sineth Weerasinghe, Suhayb Sangani, Nirusha Karunaratne, Amirally Abdulhussain, Rukshan Atapattu, Kunal Amalean, Shruthi Mathews, Dinesh Rajendran, Akshay Amalean, Rahul Hundlani, Nazneen Jeevunje, Sabina Ambani, Dushiyanth Arunasalam, Ayala de Mel and Hussain Faiz (Colombo International School), Zara Mathew and Charlotte Ballard (a British student living in Sri Lanka since year 5) (Elizabeth Moir School), Sampath Hemachandra and Sidath Hemachandra (Gateway College Kandy), Danushka Fernando and Raveen Wickremasinghe, (S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia), Nihara Gunesekera (Ladies College), Janith Damboragama (Nalanda College), Keminda Attygalla (Royal College), Dimagi Gunesekera (Musaeus College), Dineeka de Silva (Overseas School of Colombo), Romali Boteju (St. Bridget’s Convent).

Rochelle Melder a senior teacher from AIS is the delegation manager and will accompany the delegates to USA.

Since year 2000, Sri Lanka has been participating in the Presidential Classroom Future World Leaders Summit held annually at Georgetown University in Washington DC USA.

In 2004, Fadil Bakeer Markar from Asian International School and formerly of Ananda College was the Head of the Sri Lankan delegation and is now in Sri Lanka on vacation. Fadil is one of many success stories of this unique civic education and leadership development programme that has benefited 300 Sri Lankan students.

Immediately after the summit Fadil, like most delegates received a scholarship and went on to study at the London School of Economics known as LSC which has a 9,000 student population of which 70 per cent are international students.

In the second year of his academic studies, this young Sri Lankan was elected by popular student vote as the Director of International Services.

This year bringing pride to Sri Lanka and all Sri Lankans, Fadil was elected with a large majority as Secretary General of the LSC Student Union.

He is the first Asian to hold this post and is a full time officer. He is a key policy maker of LSC. Fadil is the third son of Imtiaz Bakeer Markar, a former Minister and Member of Parliament for Beruwala. Fadil’s elder brother Azam too was a Presidential Classroom Future World Leaders Summit scholar who graduated from UK.

Presidential Classroom Future World Leaders Summit held annually at Georgetown University offers 500 student leaders from 40 countries the opportunity to interact with current leaders and Washington insiders who shape global economic and diplomatic policy.

During their eight-day stay in Washington DC they attend seminars inside the US Parliament, US Department of State, World Bank, Organisation of American States and the US Defence Academy.

These student leaders 16 to 19 years of age are nominated by their school principals and sponsored by their parents to participate in this summit. A very high command of the English Language is a must for participation in this summit.

Three hundred and seventeen Sri Lankan student leaders from 36 leading schools in the country have experienced this unique week in Washington DC, that gives a competitive advantage for them to obtain scholarships to most American Universities.

Of these Sri Lankans many have now graduated from US, Australian and British universities and are either reading for their Masters or are employed in Sri Lanka, USA and Australia.

Applications for the 2008 Summit are available free of charge from [email protected] or from Ananda Rajapakse, South Asia Representative for Presidential Classroom Inc. USA, 43, Horton Place, Colombo 7.

Nalandian saves student from drowning in Tissa Wewa

PRAISE: Tharindu Wickramasinghe, leader of the Colombo Nalanda College Life Saving Unit has been commended by Anuradhapura Government Agent H. M. K. Herath for saving the life of Janka Sameera, a 16-year-old student of Dagonna, Negombo who had fallen into difficulties while bathing in the Tissa Wewa during the recent Poson season.

The other student L. Sampath (20), who accompanied Janaka Sameera drowned in the Tissa Wewa.

Tharindu, 17, is studying in the year 12 class at Nalanda.

 He had joined the life saving team in 2000.

This was his third annual visit to Anuradhapura for Poson duties.

Tharindu who said he was extremely happy to have saved the life of a student, said he was sorry that he could not save the other student before drowning.

Teacher-in-charge Yamuna Kalyani who had come to Anuradhapura with the Nalanda Life Saving team was full of praise for Tharindu.

She said Tharindu is extremely talented in both studies and sports. He is popular among the students and the teaching staff.

World’s youngest mobile software application developer

WORLD RECORD: Kasun Gamage, a 15-year-old student of Ananda College, Colombo became the youngest mobile application developer in the world by certifying one of the most prestigious professional examinations known as the Sun Certified Mobile Application Developer (SCMAD) examination, recommended for experienced Java Developers in the IT industry.

Having this world record by Kasun proved that for someone with determination the lack of an academic degree or even Advanced Level is not a hindrance.

The SCMAD examination which Kasun got certified will guarantee to make you the ultimate mobile application developer for this growing mobile software market. It covers all the concepts which you need to develop highly advanced enterprise software applications.