Sachinthani Bhagya

bags All Island Best Junior Librarian Award :

by Husna Inayathullah

pix: Saman Sri Wedage

S.J. Sachinthani Bhagya Samaradiwakara is in Grade Seven at Sirimavo Bandaranaike Balika Vidyalaya, Hanguranketa. She won the 'All Island Best Junior Librarian Award' organised by the National Library and Documentation Services Board of the Ministry of Education during the National Literacy Month.

Education Minister, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam was the Chief Guest at the ceremony.

Sachinthani said she had no words to express her happiness on being selected as the All Island Best Junior Librarian. Sachinthani comes from a poor family in Hapuwela, Nuwara Eliya. Her father, Nimal Amaratunge does not have a permanent job and her mother, Nayana Dharshani is a housewife.

Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam has offered to help her enter Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya, Colombo but she is unable to use this opportunity due to lack of finances. She was presented some books for her library.

Well spoken, smart and intelligent, Sachinthani is also a talented dancer, actor and plays the violin and the organ. She collects stamps and her hobby is reading. "I like to be a music teacher when I grow up, because I love all types of music," she said.

"At present I have more than 800 books in my library. Many children in my village borrow books from my library. Many people in my village help me to develop the library. I started the library with the books I had at home. I also bought some books and some people in my village donated books," she said.

Sachinthani said the 'Room to Read' project introduced in her school gave her the opportunity to start a library. She was selected as the Best Librarian at the competition conducted by the Nuwara Eliya District Library Program to foster the reading habit in children in the region. She said the Sri Lanka Library Association was aware of her district level achievement and invited her to the Literacy Month Award Ceremony.