Lions essay competition on prevention of AIDS

By Sarath Malalasekera

The annual essay competition on prevention of HIV/AIDS and drug abuse organised by the International Association of Lions Club - District 306 -A2 will be held this year for the sixteenth time.

The golden jubilee of Lionism in Sri Lanka this year is the year where Lion Leader Lion Mahendra Amarasuriya MJF is at the helm of the Lions Clubs International as its International President.

"We have decided to offer cash prizes to the first three winners in each medium (winner Rs.10,000, first runner-up Rs.5,000 and second runner-up Rs. 2,500, on each topic in addition to trophies and certificates," said Lion S. Ramachandran MJF, the co-ordinator of the essay competition.

The first three schools from which the most number of entries are received will get gift vouchers to purchase books or sports material.

The Sri Lanka Federation of Non-Government Organisations Against Drug Abuse (SLFONGOADA) and the Sri Lanka Anti Narcotics Association (SLANA) which is celebrating its 20th anniversary in November are extending its fullest co-orperation to the Lions Club of Dehiwela North which is sponsoring the program to make the Golden Jubilee year contest a success.

Participation is open to all school-children between 15 and 19. The topics are 'Youth's roll in building a drug free Sri Lanka and 'Youth's responsibility in preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS, in all three languages.

Conditions - Essays should not exceed 6- A4 size pages (preferably on one side of the sheet) and not less than five pages. They could be either hand written or typed.

Certification by the school Principal is compulsory in respect of the date of birth and to the effect that the entry is the original work of the student.

Name and address of the student (including residential address).

Participants can write their essays on one topic or both but they should be separate entries.

The decision of the panel of judges is final and no correspondence will be entertained and scripts will not be returned.

Mailing Address - District Chairperson - Lions Service for Children, 12/3 Frances Road, Wellawatte, Colombo 6.

Entries close on January 31.