4 March 2017 12:00 am
The Siddhalepa group has successfully conducted the All-Island Kekulu Art Competition for the fifth consecutive year, since 2012.
The competition is designed to encourage young preschool children’s inherent skills in expressing themselves through the medium of art together with the objective of moulding them into adults with a high level of their chosen skill.
The competition woven around the Siddhalepa group’s Kekulu range of children’s dental health products has grown islandwide over the years to reach its full potential in reaching out to children in every corner of the country, beyond the boundaries of the group’s marketing goals.
A total of 158,101 entries from 6121 preschools were received: Kegalle 11992, Galle 12905, Ratnapura 9526, Kandy – 7568, Matale – 4821, Nuwara Eliya – 3900, Kurunegala – 11540, Puttlam – 4598, Matara – 9865, Hambantota – 3306, Colombo – 10283, Gampaha – 16275, Kalutara – 15132, Badualla – 6324, Moneragala – 5220, Anuradhapura – 6120, Polonnaruwa – 4021, Jaffna – 1206, Killinochchi - 1320, Mannar – 1421, Mullaitivu – 1689, Vavuniya – 2075, Trincomalee – 1920, Ampara – 2954 and Batticaloa – 2120.
Of the entries shortlisted at district level, 100 entries were selected for the final all-island prize distribution to held recently, at the S. de S. Jayasinghe Hall in Dehiwala, in the presence of a distinguished gathering of invitees. The chief guests at the event were Women’s and Children’s Affairs Minister Chandani Bandara and Hettigoda Group of Companies Chairman Deshabandu Dr. Victor Hettigoda.
The panel of judges for the all-island competition comprised renowned artist Bandula Harischandra and Kusuma Mangalika.
The top three all-island winners were: first place: Gehansa Sisithmi Yasanayake – Bright Preschool – Badulla District; second place: Randula Sehas Wickramaratne – Sumudu Preschool – Rathnapura District; third place: Pabasari Lalantha Harinakshi – Urban Council Preschool – Kaluthara District.
The all island winners and the winners of the art competition at district level were all awarded prizes including cash prizes, school equipment and certificates by the following distinguished invitees: Batticoloa Member of Parliament Sathasivam Vialendram, Ratnapura District Secretary Malini Lokupothagama, Hambantota District Secretary W.H. Karunaratne, Ampara District Secretary Thusitha P. Wanigasinghe, Badulla District Secretary Abeysiri Lal Nihal, Moneragala District Secretary G.S. Pathmakulasuriya, Tincomalee District Secretary N.A.A. Pushpa Kumara, Vavuniya District Secretary M. Pushpakumara, Mannar District Secretary M.Y.A. Deshapriya, Jaffna District Secretary Nalingam Vethanayahan, Mullaitivu Assistant District Secretary A. Lathumeera, Killinochchi District Secretary Suntharam Arumainayaham, Kalutara District Secretary U.D.C. Jayalal, Gampaha District Secretary Sunil Jayalath, Colombo District Secretary Sunil Kanangara, Matara District Secretary Pradeep Ratnayake, Galle District Secretary K.T. Kodikara, Kurunegala District Secretary Gamini Illangaratne, Anuradhapura District Secretary R.M. Wanninayake, Matale District Secretary D.P.G. Kumarasiri, Nuwara Eliya District Secretary K.H.A. Meegasmulla, Kandy District Secretary H.N.P. Hitisekera, Puttlam District Secretary N.H.M. Chitrananda, Kegalle District Secretary R.M. Gamini Seneviratne and Polonnaruwa District Secretary Ranjit Ariyaratne.
The Hettigoda group has made a commitment to continue this All-Island Kekulu Art Competition in the future years as its contribution to nurturing the natural skills of young children - the future wealth of our nation.