All-Island Siddhalepa Kekulu Children’s Art
Competition:
Nourishing creative talents
“A generation of children endowed with positive values and attitudes
is the future of our fast developing island nation.” - First Lady
First Lady Shiranthi Wickremasinghe Rajapaksa made this statement
recently at the J R Jayewardene Centre in Colombo, where she was Chief
Guest at the presentation of medals and awards to the winners of the
All-Island Siddhalepa Kekulu Children's Art Competition.
The Art Competition was organized by the Siddhalepa Group of
companies. Five thousand preschools participated in it and a total of
150,000 drawings had been presented of which 900 were selected at
district and provincial levels for the final competition, which was
adjudged by leading artists. They selected 100 of the best children's
drawings that qualified for prizes and certificates.
Mrs Rajapaksa commended the work of a private sector business entity
in identifying the latent talents of our children and presenting them to
the nation. “In the task of building an enlightened citizenry the first
step is to nurture our children at a young age in artistic activities
and develop their creativity. Art competitions such as the Siddhalepa
Kekulu Competition are a powerful impetus to personality growth,
inculcation of leadership qualities, development of self-confidence and
self-esteem, flowering of the capacities and instilling a sense of
discipline among our children,” she said.
Chairman of the Siddhalepa Group of Companies Dr Victor Hettigoda
said that the objective of the Kekulu Art Competition was to produce a
generation of intelligent and disciplined children by nourishing their
creative talents at the pre-school stage.
J A Chathuki Amasa of the Kurunegala Janapriya Pre-school in the
North Western Province won the first prize, Manushi Devumini of the
Dambulla Nippon Pre-school in the Central Province the second prize and
Kasi Udampath of the Tangalle Carlton Pre-school in the Southern
Province won the third prize in the Competition.
The prizes and certificates were distributed by the First Lady to
whom Dr Hettigoda presented a special token in appreciation of her
distinguished work for the welfare of children and women. |