Lankan karate kids excel in India

Ganga PRADEEPA

‘All Japan shito-Ryu Seikokai Karate do India’ organized their first Seiko Kai Asia karate cup championship at

 Bapu Samaj Aditorium, New Delhi recently.

Fifteen students from Leeds International School Panadura, Prince of Wales- Moratuwa, St. Thomas College- Mount Lavinia, Colombo South International Kalubowila and Alethia International Dehiwala participated this event. Out doing the participants from India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Macao, they obtained a Gold medal, a Silver medal and twelve Bronze medals for Kata and Kumite events. Vimukthi Gunaratne of Prince of Wales College has done Karate for eleven years. “Now I am in my second Dan Black belt grade. I have participated at local and international tournaments and obtained awards and medals. I thank our Principal, teachers and my instructors,” he said.

“I am in my first Dan Black belt. I also have participated at local and international tournaments. I have obtained several medals and awards at fourth annual Karate Do championship, open Nepal Karate do Championship 2005, Kata and Team Kata event at first Asia cup, Seiko Kai Karate do championship 2008 at New Delhi,” said Dilini of Alethea International School. Heidi Pahalage of Leeds International School Panadura said she did karate since 2003. “I have taken the brown belt. We have karate practices on Tuesdays and Fridays. I was able to achieve the present grade due to the hard work of my instructors and teacher in charge. I have participated at karate training seminars conducted by the international coaches. I have participated at local and international tournaments. I have won two gold medals, one Silver medal and three Bronze medals.

The credit of all these achievements should go to our school Chairman, Principal and Teachers.

I was able to participated first Seiko Kai Asia cup Karate championship. I won two Bronze medals for age limit 10-12 Kata event and open team Katra event. It was a very good experience for all participants,” she said. Danushka Pahalage Ulrich, 13, of Leeds International School Panadura has been placed third at the Kamite event and won a Bronze medal at the championship. “I would like to thank my karate instructor Sensei Ruwan Satharasinghe, Sempai Samantha Adurapola, Chairman of the Leeds International School Sarath Jayatissa, Principal M.N. Edussuriya, Teacher in charge, Anusha Samaranayake, all my teachers at LIS and my parents for encouraging and supporting me,” Danushka said.

“I have been doing karate since 2002. Now I am in my first Dan Black belt grade. I have participated at Karate training seminars conducted by International coaches.

I have participated at local and International tournaments and won two gold medals for Kata- Kumite, three Bronze medals for Kumite and two Silver medals for Kata Kumite. First Seiko Kai Asia Cup Karate Championship in India was a good experience for all of us. We were able to share our ideas with the participants from other countries,” said Kaveen Samaranayake of Leeds International School. “I was able to participate at four tournaments and receive five gold medals, one silver medal and three bronze medals. I am in first Dan Black Belt grade,” said Dulisha Mendis also of Leeds International School.

Roshan Dalpadathu, of S. Thomas College has participated at local and international tournaments. “I have obtained awards and medals at annual Seiko Kai Tournaments and tenth Seiko Kai International Tournament held in Japan,” he said.

“I have been practicing in karate since 2004. I’m in the first Dan Black Belt grade. I have won twelve medals and was selected as the best karate Ka female of the year 2005. I won two Bronze medals from first Seiko Kai Asia cup tournament,” said Ama Gomes from Leeds International School.

Roshan Dalpadado from S. Thomas’ College Mt Lavinia has been following Shito-Ryu style Karate for more than eight years. “I am currently a black belt first Dan and have taken part in many tournaments, both international and local. I am very grateful to my sensei. I would also like to thank my friends and family who supported me all the way through,” he added. Congratulations teens for showing off your talents to the world and Daily News Teen wishes you all the very best in future endeavours.

Sky is the limit for Tharinda

Chaminda Perera

Tharinda Guneratne an Anandian has excelled in wide variety of fields such as debating, scouts, sports while keeping his fervour for academic studies undiminished.

Guneratne was the winner of all island speech contest 2007 organised by the Toastermasters Association amidst stiff competition by leading schools in Colombo and suburbs.

He brought honour to his Alma Mater by surpassing over 300 contestants at this competition.

Tharinda has won many laurels at national and international contests and brought fame and prestige to Sri Lanka.

His school career to date speaks volumes of academic achievements, power of communication and immense of personal charm.

“I always try to stick to a timetable. Time management and burning desire in me to excel in every field as much as I can, brought me success,” he said.

Tharinda says he represented Sri Lanka at the Asian Model UN Summit in Beijing, China which speaks the impression he created in the field of debating.

“The model UN summit in China was an amazing experience. I had an opportunity to interact with many Asian students, he said.

“It gave me considerable personal satisfaction to have played key role at this summit.

It was a conference where we talk about world matters such as global warming and terrorism. The students at the conference represented different countries and I had to represent Cambodia and present my views.

Guneratne was among the shortlisted to represent Sri Lanka at the World School debating tournament in South Korea. The college having recognised his exceptional forte for debating and speech has appointed him as the Ananda English debating team Captain and the Treasurer of the English Debating Society.

“I gained tremendous experience as the college debating team Captain. This helped me leave an indelible impression on the mind of Asian students at the 2007 Asian Model UN summit in China.

Tharinda who sat for O/L examination last December is now studying for CIMA. He says he does not like to wait at home till the results are out. “I wanted to become an entrepreneur one day and start my own business. I hope CIMA and my A/Ls will give more impetus. “I have also started London A/Ls. Basically I am studying five days a week,” he said. He showcased outstanding performance at the 25th Scouts Jamboree in Thailand and brought honour to his school.

“We have to learn more by participating in international events and interacting with students of different cultures and societies, he said.

He said his parents helped him gain all these achievements. “My parents are the constant source of encouragement for me.

They trained me guided and I am deeply indebted to my family for my success, he said.

Tharinda says Ananda college always helps its promising offsprings to ascend the ladder of success. The college’s English debating team, debating society and the Broadcasting unit laid the platform for me to excel in the field.

Sky is the limit for this promising student who braved many obstacles and difficulties in the path to success with sheer dedication and perseverance.

Global Art exhibition

Global art students are exhibiting their creative art works on March 18 and 19 at Lionel Wendt Art Gallery. It will be open for the public from 10 a.m. to 8.30 p.m.

Young talented children of Global Art Sri Lanka will present their creative artistic skills. Global Art Sri Lanka is a collaboration of ILDP Academy (Pvt) Ltd, with Global Art & Creative, Malaysia. Incorporated in 1999, Global Art & Creative, Malaysia is the first and only company in South East Asia to provide a complete, systematic and efficient art programme with the aim of developing the artistic and creative potential of children.

Global Art instils a higher level of artistic appreciation and skill in our students, Global Art and Creative, Malaysia has done extensive research in the development of the step-by-step art syllabus, which has been a trendsetter in South East Asia and Australia.

Global Art Sri Lanka started its first learning centre in Colombo in July 2007 and is currently present in five centres namely, Colpetty, Wellawatte, Kalutara, Wattala and Modera.

It creates an awareness of the importance of learning art in nurturing the intellectual potential of our students. The exhaustive and thoroughly researched syllabus aims to provide the students with formal art training comparable to any syllabus taught in art school.

Students can learn the basics, from subject composition, perspective, colour harmony and contrast, to human figure drawing.

Systematic and straightforward, this syllabus is designed to cater to the needs of all students even to those with no artistic talents.