Lankan style, French smile

Kandy teens show their colours:

Ruwini JAYAWARDANA

We all need some time off our work so that we can enjoy the lighter side of our life and boost our energies. We all need to have what is often termed "leisure time". An idle mind is a devil's workshop. So it is better to stay occupied and do something that is both creative and worthwhile.

AYA 2006 (Alliance Young Artists 2006), organised by Alliance Francaise de Kandy, is a helping hand to a few such individuals who had used their pastime to discover the hidden artistic talent within themselves.

The opening ceremony was held on September 8, and the exhibition held for seven days, ends on September 15. Fifty-nine selected works of five young artists were on display from 9.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.

A variety of paintings ranging from landscapes to profiles, done using water colours, oil paint, acrylic paint, pastels, and threadwork were presented at the exhibition. While the crowd gathered to look at the paintings, the artists spared a brief moment to express their views to Daily News Teen.

"Artists are rarely given the chance to display their talents. I appreciate this rare opportunity given to us by the Alliance Francaise.

I believe that the Government should take note of this and take steps to recognise, encourage, and improve the talents of young artists like us," said Nayanthara Kuruppuarachchi, 17, a student of Pushpadana Girls' College, Kandy.

Nayanthara's talent for art was recognised at an early age by her parents and they encouraged her to take up art as a subject. Previously, she had displayed her paintings to the public on two occasions: once in 2003, at her former school, Swarnamali Balika Maha Vidyalaya, and later at a similar opportunity given to schoolchildren by the Alliance Francaise.

Nayanthara also remembered Sunandha Perera, the Principal of Pushpadana Girls' College and her art teachers with gratitude.

Pulasthi Handunge, 11, is the only child in his family. Pulasthi had not only shown interest towards art but in the past he had been engaged in music, dancing and sport activities as well. His future plan is to become a professional artist.

Pulasthi said he had preferred to use water colours for his paintings earlier, but hopes to try his hand at oil painting under the guidance of Deepika Gamlath.

Winning first prize in an art competition held by Swarnavahini is one of his great achievements. Pulasthi was very keen to stress the role that his mother played in his path of improvement.

Jayamali Weerasinghe, Sreemathi Herath, Vajira Perera, Obeysekara and all teachers of Trinity College, he acknowledged with gratitude.

Pragathi Helakumara, 17, loves drawing landscapes. AYA 2006 was the first opportunity he was given to present his work. He expressed his wish to master the art of drawing profiles. "I am grateful to my art teacher at Sri Sumangala College, Kandy and my parents for their support," he said.

Fathima Rifka Farook, 12, got the opportunity to display her paintings on a number of occasions before AYA 2006. She had presented her work not only at an exhibition held at her previous school, but had also had a solo exhibition of paintings and sculptures at the E. L. Senanayake Children' library.

Furthermore, Fathima displayed her drawings on popular children' TV programmes such as Punchi Panchi and KTV.

She thanked H.M. Wataliyaddha, Principal of Girls High School, Kandy, Thilak Palliyaguruge, Upali Dissanayake, Deepika Gamlath, Madhukumari Rathnayake, Nuwan Chandrasiri of KTV, and the director and staff of the Alliance Francaise de Kandy.

Sakunthala Idisooriya, 17, is another student from Girls High school. She is fond of abstract designing and she had been under the guidance of D.S. Goonathilake.

"I would like to represent Sri Lanka in this field someday. Therefore, an opportunity like this helps us to know other's opinions and allows us to learn and improve ourselves.

I have chosen Geography, Art, and Sinhala as my A\L subjects and I believe it is a good combination. I wish to express my gratitude to the principal and staff of my school, my parents and my friends," she said.

Both Nayanthara and Sakunthala expressed the hope of organising a joint exhibition in November.

Not to be forgotten is the tremenderous hard work that the Alliance Francaise had to endure to organise this exhibition.

"Our intention is to encourage and develop talents of young artists. Our target is the school age group and we have been holding this programme annually from 2003," explained Dr. Jacques Soulie, the Director of the Alliance Francaise de Kandy.

Having spent an enjoyable morning among mind capturing works of five talented youngsters, we took leave after exchanging a warm "Au revoir".

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Lanka shines in International Olympiad in Informatics

VARUNA Parinda Jayasiri won a silver and Chetiya B. Abeysinghe and G. Sandaruwan Gunathilake won bronze medals at the IOI held in Yucatan, Mexico in August. Nuwan Jayanath Samaraskera (Ananda College, Colombo) also participated.

Varuna is from Royal College, Chetiya (Maliyadeva College, Kurunegala) and Sandaruwan (Seevali College, Ratnapura). The students were assisted by Dr. Gihan Wickremanayake (UCSC) as Team Manager and Sifaan Zavahir as his deputy.

IOI is the Computer Programming Olympics that brings together more than 250 participants from over 80 countries for schoolchildren below 20 years. They face a two day competition consisting of five-hour long sessions each day.

China was placed first with four gold medals, Poland second with 3 gold and one silver, Russia third with three gold and one bronze. Sri Lanka and India both won one silver and two bronze and were placed above Sweden, UK, Thailand, Singapore and Mexico. There were 284 participants in all.

This brings the total number of medals won by Sri Lanka from 1992 when Sri Lanka first took part at an IOI to three gold, six silver and 16 bronze medals.

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The attraction of forbidden things

HUMAN beings are never perfect. It is basic human nature to get attracted to various things. The reason for people to get attracted mostly depends on the age. Irrespective of age, mainly what they seek for is happiness and to satisfy their curiosity to motivate them.

Other than that, mostly adults commit forbidden acts to find money and to gain pleasure. Adolescents get attracted to loud sounds, bright lights, and they get together with friends and do various things for fun.

The reason would be the wanting to be independent and gain satisfaction by being mischievous. The last category would be children.

They would not like to study or listen to elders and will focus their attention on entertainment.

As we see there are different reasons for these three sets of people; adults, teenagers and children, they do have different types of things for which they would be attracted to.

Firstly, if we consider the adults, there is a chance for them to do things which are illegal or unauthorised. They would get addicted to drugs, alcohol and even computer hacking.

The next group of people would be the youngsters whose attraction would be drawn towards various magazines, internet, carrying out adventures, discos, and even ragging smaller children. Children's interests lie in a different areas. They get involved in watching television, video games and internet.

When being attracted to the above activities, they lead people to various problems as a result. Doing forbidden things would affect the unity of the family, the person's age being immaterial.

Furthermore there will cause financial problems, affect the health which would also lead to waste of money or family wealth. When driving after liquor they risk their lives too. If they are caught using or transporting drugs and other illegal substances they will be taken into custody.

Children and teenagers would not focus their mind on studies which will affect their lives throughout. They will get annoyed when they are advised and keep on doing mischievous deeds.

Therefore we see the attraction of forbidden things harming people. On the other hand, they become a menace to society. So, certain things should be done for prevention.

Since it is difficult for one to get rid of his or her acts after getting used to it, the best way is to educate them before they are addicted. They should be made to realise the effects of such deeds. But, there should be a way to guide people who are already on the wrong path too.

Proper counselling, slowly changing their ways by letting them do interesting things which are useful and good and finally giving them credit for their good work will be a few methods of correcting them, and they should be handled tactfully.

All in all, people are imperfect. So, one should have self-control and the ability to choose what is right and wrong. We should try to control our feelings and to keep away from doing wrong things however much we like them.

So, if we have the ability to limit ourselves, then we can correct the others who are on the wrong path and finally make a better society in the years to come.

Akiko Arunadee Jayatileke

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Making and keeping friends

For some people making new friends comes easily. For others, it can be a difficult task. If you have been popular among friends you will not face many problems. Use the same skills you used to make friends.A few other suggestions include:

* Be friendly to people

* Listen when people talk to you

* Don't make fun of people

* Strike up conversations with other people in your classes

* If you excel in a subject, help out the other students in your class

* Laugh and have fun.

Making and keeping good friends is a challenge for all of us, whether we're shy or not. One thing is to think back on how you developed friendships in the past. Probably the best way to make and keep friends is to find others who share your interests.

Lasting friendships often develop between people who enjoy the same activities, like participating in sports, music, or after school clubs.

You also want to be with friends who share your values and goals for life, and you may find them in church, youth groups, scholastic activities like the debate team, or service groups. It just depends on what your own interests are.

That old saying is also true - that the best way to have a friend is to be a friend. Reach out to the others who share your interests, sit with them at lunch, invite them to join you in the activities you all like, listen to their thoughts and tell them yours.

Being a real friend take time and effort. Although your set of friends will probably change over the years, you may also find 'best friends' during your school years that you'll always stay connected with.