Young entrepreneurs prove talents

Kushan Pathiraja receiving his award from Managing Director /CEO Cargills Ceylon (Pvt) Ltd Ranjit Page.

Once again the Young Entrepreneurs have proved their talents and entrepreneurial skills to the whole country at the 11th Annual National Young Entrepreneurs Awards which was held recently.

H.L. Piyankara Ananda of the Claw-Rich Company of Richmond College, Galle won the most outstanding Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2008.

The Cargills Award for the Outstanding Young Entrepreneur (Boy) was presented to Kushan Pathiraja of Massif Company of St. Joseph's College, Colombo 10.

H.L. Piyankara Ananda receiving his award from General Manager ANCL, Abhaya Amaradasa.

The Sri Lanka Telecom Award for the Outstanding Young Entrepreneur - Girl was presented to Rosenjala N. Dias of Handy Art Company of Kuda Kusum Balika Vidyalaya, Bandarawela. Awards were presented under the categories of Most Outstanding Young Entrepreneur, Outstanding Young Entrepreneur Boy and Girl, Best President, Best Director- Marketing/Production/HR/Finance, Best Annual Report/Business Plan, Best Product and Best CSR project.

For 2008, over 80 school companies of the Junior Achievement/Young Entrepreneurs Sri Lanka High School Company programme competed for this year's Awards.

In addition to that awards are being presented to the best school, best teacher, best principal recognising their commitment towards the programme. YESL, a non-profit organisation, funded by Businesses, Foundations and Individuals, approved by the Education Ministry launched its programme in 1998 with nine schools involving 1600 children and now has expanded to over 400 schools involving over 42,000 children islandwide.

Rosenjala N. Dias receiving her award from SLT Chairperson, Leisha de Silva Chandrasena. Pictures by Sumanachandra Ariyawansa

This program is approved by the Ministry of Education and were offered free to the schools at three levels; Elementary; Middle and High School level.

The students sell shares, elect officers, produce and market products or services, keep records, conduct Board of Directors/shareholders meetings, do CSR projects, prepare Business plans/Annual report and liquidate (usually returning a profit) all in about nine months.

These students are mostly the O' Level and A' Level students who are preparing for their examinations, engaged in various extra curricular activities including the JA and YESL company programme.

The evaluations were done by a panel of judges renowned in their respective fields and the students are being brought into face-to-face interviews.