Kalutara students win British Sri Lanka Performers Awards

Kaushalya Lakmani Fernando, Teacher

Winners 

Students from Sri Lanka’s Kalutara District won multiple national honours at the British Sri Lanka Performers Platform, affiliated with the British and International Federation of Festivals for Speech UK, an organisation under the patronage of Her Majesty the Queen. The awards recognise excellence in speech and performance across competitive categories held at national level in 2025.  

The students competed in news reading, verse speaking, prose reading, public speaking and prepared storytelling, securing top placements against participants from across the country. National Winner Awards were claimed by Dineli Kanewela, Rivindu Wickramasinghe, Tilaksha Shakthiki, Senudi Senanayake, Oneli Amarathunge, Sanugi Kumanayake, Ayodhara Calandria, Nethusadhi Bandara and Kavishra Kithmi.  

All Island Finalist Awards were earned by Sahas Vithanage, Ranaya Chandrasekara, Sethuli Nanayakkara, Nethuka Damsilu, Nemindi Dombagahawatta, Nethuli Hesanya, Dumalsha Dewmini, Sanjana Jayathunga, Sayuru Weerasingha, Hithushi Kaluthota, Vithuja Chanudika, Oneli Amarathunge, Rivindu Wickramasinghe, Sanugi Kumanayake and Senudi Senanayake.  

The British Sri Lanka Performers Platform is part of an international festival network that evaluates speech, drama and communication skills using standardised assessment frameworks. Performances are judged on articulation, interpretation, structure and delivery, aligning with long-standing British speech and drama traditions.  

The award-winning students were trained by Kaushalya Lakmani Fernando, a registered teacher with multiple international qualifications in speech and drama. She is affiliated with the Institute of Western Music and Speech Sri Lanka, the Colombo Association of Language Skills and Dramatic Art, Trinity College of London, Victoria College UK and the University of West London.  

Educators say the results highlight the growing standard of competitive speech training in regional Sri Lanka and its ability to meet international benchmarks.