Young Speaker-2016

The Grand Finale of Young Speaker 2016 was held at The Kingsbury Hotel recently. The competition aimed at promoting speaking skills among National and International Schools in Colombo was organised by the British School in Colombo and Adventus Education. Upara Cooray of Lyceum International won the Senior Division and Rishane Dassanayake of Colombo International School won the Junior Division.

The finalists in the Senior Division were Ruqaiyah Shiraz from Gateway College, Colombo, Sumini Siyambalapitiya from The British School in Colombo, Vidhi Chand from Asian International School, Upara Cooray from Lyceum International, Panadura and Miriam Alphonsus from Methodist College. The finalists in the Junior Division, were Rishane Dassanayake from Colombo International School, Maleeka Hassan from Gateway College Dehiwala, Fathima Sahlah Anees from Methodist College, Lakkitha Wijayaratne from Royal Institute, Nugegoda and Zenab Zoeb of Burhani Serendib School.

The contestants were judged on intellectual thinking and positive expression in communicating skills. In the Grand Finale the finalists faced two rounds comprising a prepared speech and an impromptu speech.

The judges were Attorney-at-Law, Mohamed Adamally, Group Director, The Capital Maharaja Organisation Shan Weerasekera, Head of Sustainable Development, Communications and External Affairs of Holcim (Lanka) Limited Farzana Khan, Enterprise Marketing Manager, South East Asia New Markets of Microsoft Thilanka Abeywardene and CEO, Courtalds Sri Lanka Michael Massey.

The Chief Guest, Deputy British High Commissioner Laura Davies said, "Speaking in public is an important skill. Our professional, public and even private lives are all about disseminating information and exchanging ideas. Often that involves addressing an audience, either large or small."

The principal of The British School, Dr. John Smith pointing out the importance of public speaking said it is an essential skill which will help young people to develop self-confidence within them.

"Public speaking develops their powers of critical thinking and logic. Good public speakers read widely and have a good grasp of the language; they are articulate and eloquent," he said.

- KS