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| Sunday, 18 September 2005 |
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Junior Observer |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Back to school through Sipdora The Samurdhi and Poverty Alleviation Ministry has prepared a special project to bring thousands of children, who are currently not receiving any education, back to schools. The project named 'Sipdora' will provide scholarships to 14,000 schoolchildren from poor families.
A recent survey conducted by the Samurdhi Authority revealed that nearly 250,000 children from poverty-stricken families in various parts of the country do not attend school due to economic problems. Under this scholarship scheme, one poor student will be selected from each Grama Niladhari division and provided with a scholarship worth Rs. 3,500 for a duration of one year. The Samurdhi Authority will also help the families of these students by launching a programme to uplift their socio-economic standards. The Government will not be burdened by this project as funds in the Samurdhi Social Development Foundations, set up at Divisional Secretariat level, and the contributions made by well-wishers, will be used for the scholarships. Dreaming of the Olympics Thirteen-year-old Devinka Gunatilake of Bishop's College, Colombo broke a swimming record established in 1974, in August this year, in the 200m free-style. She also set up a new record at the 11th National Games 2005, also in the 200m free-style. Having started her swimming career at the age of four, under the guidance of Philip Amarasinghe, she switched to training with E. A. Wilson, the present national coach, in the year 2000."During my swimming career, I have established many meet records at school level. I have represented the country at the SAF Games 2004 in Islamabad, Pakistan. " I also represented the country at the Asian Age Group Championship in Bangkok", says Devinka, talking about her many achievements. She acknowledges the encouragement given to her by her parents and her coach without whom her successes would not have been possible. Devinka aims to represent Sri Lanka at the 2006 SAF Games, if it does not interfere with her studies, which she says, is her first priority. Like all other athletes, she dreams of taking part in the Olympics one day and winning a medal. As for the secret behind her success, Devinka says there is no secret. She sums up everything with four words, "Hard work and dedication". - A.D Varna Shakthi for child artists by Ranga Chandrarathne The Ceylon Art Academy has launched a programme called Varna Shakthi to nurture creativity among schoolchildren of all ages. This innovative programme actively encourages school children of different age groups to express themselves through the medium of art. It gives all participants the joy of seeing their drawings and paintings publicly exhibited. Unlike other normal programmes, where only a selected few get the opportunity to display their paintings, Varna Shakthi will publicly exhibit the work by every child participating, at venues close to their home towns. "Education should provide every child with not only the academic knowledge needed to pass their examinations, but also the creativity needed to overcome unexpected challenges in their fields of study and subsequent employment," said the Director of Aesthetic Studies at the Ministry of Education, Thushara Gunathilaka who was the Chief Guest at a recent media conference to launch Varna Shakthi. The programme will be conducted under the age groups of 6 to 8, 9 to 11, 12 to 14 and 15 to 18. Children can submit their drawings or paintings through their schools. Every painting submitted will be exhibited at a central location within the district. "The panel of judges comprising renowned artists will select the best paintings from each district event, for a final exhibition to be held in Colombo. Three cash prizes of Rs. 100,000, 75,000 and 50,000 will be awarded to the best three entries in each of the four age groups," said Chairman, Ceylon Art Academy, Ranga Kudakonge. The schools of the winners will also receive a cash prize of equal value to promote art in the school, and help needy students to buy the necessary material. "The first public exhibition under the Varna Shakthi programme is scheduled to be held at the Chandra Wettasinghe Memorial Hall, Rajagiriya in Colombo from November 11 to 17. We will be exhibiting the first 5,000 drawings and paintings received from participating students, in schools within the Colombo District," said Managing Director, Ceylon Art Academy, Lakdasa Colombage. "Our aim is to cover other areas through 50 such district-level exhibitions to be held within the next 12 months," he said. For details call the Ceylon Art Academy on 011-2814307 or 078-5621438 or send an e-mail to [email protected] . |
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| Politics | Produced by Lake House |
The scholarship scheme will be implemented throughout the country by
the Ministry, to provide immediate support to the large number of children
who are out of schools due to economic hardships. 
