ANCL sponsored Aloka Pooja, speech contests in Mihintale

Nimal Wijesinghe, Anuradhapura Additional District Group Corr

For the 46th time the ANCL will illuminate the Mihintale sacred city for three days from June 17 to mark Poson. Oratorical competitions for students of the North Central Province were also held in Mihintale to commemorate the dawn of the Poson season.

"The annual contest is a significant contribution to improve the oratorical skills and knowledge of Buddhism of students in the province," Budhusarana Editor Nelson Perera said at the commencement of the senior and junior oratorical competitions at Mihintale Maha Vidyalaya parallel to the Aloka Pooja. The competitions were open to students of Government schools and Dhamma schools in the North Central Province.

A large number of students took part. Sachinda Dilan of Anuradhapura Madhya Maha Vidyalaya came first in the Senior Category while Nimasha Hanshani of Nivattaka Chethiya Maha Vidyalaya was the winner of the Junior Category.

The first, second and third places were awarded Rs. 10,000, Rs. 7,500 and Rs. 5,000 respectively.