Sandeepani wins art competition

Aitken Spence Hotels awarded prizes and certificates to the winners of their art competition held to commemorate World Tourism Day and Universal Children’s Day, recently. The winners along with their parents and teachers attended the ceremony.

The objective of the competition was to raise awareness to the close relationship tourism shares with biodiversity and conservation. The competition was organised for school children in two categories - above 12 and below 12 years of age.

Schools located near the Aitken Spence Hotels were involved as participation was encouraged by General Managers and staff of the hotels - Heritance Kandalama, Heritance Tea Factory, Heritance Ahungalla, Earl’s Regency, Bandarawela Hotel, Hotel Hill Top and Ramada Resort.

The hotels conducted local competitions, with over 700 youngsters participating. Bandarawela Hotel submitted the largest number of entries.

The judging was conducted by Sybil Wettasinghe who applauded the creativity of the paintings on display and the exceptional talents of the youngsters as well as their ability to connect with the theme.

Managing Director Aitken Spence Hotels Malin Hapugoda said, “It was a very pleasant experience to meet the little children who emerged as winners of the art competition and it is heartening to see their impressions of tourism’s positive contribution to bio diversity.

The tourism industry can play a major role in raising awareness and promoting positive behaviour by tourists and the locals towards biodiversity conservation. Biodiversity is a key asset for tourism in most developing countries.”

The overall winner was eleven-year-old A.G. Sandeepani Tathsarani, an year 6 student of Kalutara Balika National School. Runners-up were H.M.D. Himali Jayaratne, an year 7 student of Mahawatte Maha Vidyalaya, Kundasale and M. Himasha Sandeepani Mendis, an year 10 student from Tissa Central College, Mahawaskaduwa.

Sandeepani said that she would be opening a savings account with her prize money of rupees 25,000.

Six finalists selected at each Aitken Spence Hotel were also awarded prizes and certificates. Schools of the winners were awarded funds towards the supply of school equipment.