Induwara Asna '13:

The drama in media!

Ishara Jayawardane

It would not be entirely inaccurate to describe communication as a great feat of the human soul that has evolved over the years due to man's genius. Drama is the oldest and one of the most popular forms of communication. Gone are the days when men and women had to travel by horseback to receive and exchange information. Now in a single minute men and women can connect with each other while being oceans apart.

Induwara Asna "13", the Media Day of Devika Balika Vidyalaya,Colombo was held recently with much pomp and excitement. Media Day was organized by the Communications Unit of Devi Balika Vidyalaya. The event featured the award presentation for winners of the Creative Media Competition held annually. The theme of Media Day was Media and Drama.Anoma G. Rajapakse was the Media Coordinator, Head of the Media Unit and organizer of the event.

Cultural values

Devi Balika is a school with a 'rich cultural consciousness' and have a zest for theater and an appreciation of the arts. Media Day at Devi Balika featured a number of Dramas involving the students. The girls have been imbibed and saturated with our unique Sri Lankan Culture and this was evident in the Thovil play. The plays were well rehearsed, practised and one was very humorous. The costumes were well done and the plays showed ingenuity. The last play was about the evolution of Drama.

"In the last few decades there has been a phenomenal advancement in information technology. Internet, Cell phones, Facebook, Twitter, Skype and other such technological marvels have transformed human life. It is very difficult to find people without cell phones these days. The means of expressing ideas is unprecedented like no age before. These technological feats go hand in hand with man's intelligence. Conversing with family and relatives in the four corners of the globe is possible unlike before. Distance is no longer an obstacle. This age is called "Mega Age Of Mass Communication" said Edwin Ariyadasa .

Dangers

Ariyadasa went on to say that we are living in a global family and not a global village.

However there are dangers, one being pornography and other such traps. "Propaganda and ideas can be spread throughout the world. Herein lies the danger with harmful material being circulated. Here it is not only children who are in danger but adults as well. Technology which has proved to be a blessing to people can also be a vice. There are also instances where the benefits of technology have been abused with damaging material being circulated through cell phones belonging to children."

It is also not a secret that in this world terrorist propaganda is also circulated on the web. This is an added danger. "Children need to be educated about what is right and wrong when using technology. They must be taught good human values, morals and decency."

In her address Principal Pradeepa Samarasinghe said that it is the sworn duty and responsibility of the school to guide the student on the right track and provide him with opportunities to build a good personality.

"The Creative Media competition afforded students to give their best. A lot of effort was put into this and the competition was a success."

For the creative media competition 62 schools took part with nearly 1000 contestants. "The communication Unit of Devi Balika Vidyalaya wanted to extend it wings to other schools in the island by organizing Inter school creative media competition 2013 for the seventh consecutive year. Induwara Asna 2013 has given its thematic relevance to 'Dramatically motivated communication' that expounds on the history of drama and its effect on communication looking forward to give you a mesmerizing and a unique experience intermingling entertainment and wisdom," said President Indeewari Mendis of the Communication Unit of Devi Balika Vidyalaya.