30th Annual All Island Essay Competition –Awards Ceremony

Lions Club of Dehiwela North (Lions International District 306 A 2) successfully completed it’s 30th Annual All Island Essay Competition on Prevention of Drug Abuse, open for all school children in the age group of 15 to 19 in all three languages. First five place winners from each language category received their cash prizes, medals and certificates at an awards ceremony held on Feb 18at the Lions Activity Centre, Vidya Mawatha, Colombo-7.

District Governor Lion Nuwan Indunil Ballantudawa graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Past District Governor Lion Duminda Munasinghe, Chairman of the Express Newspapers (Ceylon) Ltd. Kumar Nadesan, Dr.Sarayh Samarage, Rotary District 3220 Secretary Rotarian V. Ramanah and Secretary, Foundation for Innovative Social Development Ravi Kandiah were present as special guests of Honour. All of them in their speeches stressed the need of Awareness on the impact of drug abuse.

Project Chairman Lion S. Ramachandran and Club President Lion Madara Sandamali briefed the audience of the activities carried out by the club continuously from 1993 to create much needed awareness among the younger generation.

(Standing) Winners in the English Medium with Committee members Miss A Krishnaweni. (Seated) PDG Lion Duminda Munasinghe, District Governor Lion Nuwan Indunil Ballanthudawa, Project Chairman Lion S Ramachandran, Dr Sarath Samarage, Mr Kumar Nadesan and Club President Lion Madara Sandamali

Details of winners are as follows:-.SINHALA MEDIUM: 1st Prize- Miss.H.A.Kaveesha Diwyangani Hettiarachchi, Sri Sumangala National College, Wariyapola, 2nd Prize: Miss. W.A.M.Ayesha Maduwanthi Abeysinghe, Holy Family Balika Maha Vidyalaya, Kurunegala, 3rd Prize: Miss.K.M.Thejanee Devindhya Jayaweera, Holy Family Balika Maha Vidyalaya, Kurunegala, 4th Prize: Miss.H.D.Adeesha Indusarani Wijesinghe, Mayurapadha National School, Narammala, 5th Prize: Mast. H.M.Laksanda Pasindu Bandara Herath St.Anne’s College, Kurunegala, TAMIL MEDIUM: 1st Prize: Miss.Mohammed Faseeth Fathima Shafa, T/Mu/Mutur Muslim Ladies’ College, Muttur-01, 2nd Prize:Miss.Krishnamoorthi Abirami, Sri Saivapragasa Ladies’ College, Vavuniya 3rd Prize: Miss.Alavutheen Fathima Ishtha, T/Mu/Mutur Muslim Ladies’ College, Muttur-01, 4th Prize:Miss.Kavinaya Anthonythasan, Mn/ St.Xavier’s Girls’ College, Mannar, 5th Prize: Mast. Sritharan Payotharan, Bt/Kk/ Vantharumoolai Madya Maha Vidyalayam, Sittandy. ENGLISH MEDIUM:1st Prize:Miss.D.M.Pehesarani Nimthera Gunawardhana, A/Swarnapali Girls’ College, Anuradhapura, 2nd Prize:Mast.Sathiyarupan Aarthik, Hartley College, Point Pedro, 3rd Prize:Miss.Piumraa Dulkini Halpe Gamage, Musaeus College, Colombo-7, .4th Prize:Miss.Kaventhika Jeyachandran ,J/Jaffna Hindu Ladies’ College, Jaffna, 5th Prize: Miss.Haajar Aroos, Ilma International Girls’ School, Colombo 5.

This year’s programme was jointly sponsored by Rotary E – Club of Greater Sydney & the Rotary Club of Tuggrah (District 9685-Australia) and the Rotary Club of Colombo South teamed up with the Lions Club of Dehiwela North to work out this project.