Nipuna Prathibah 3:

Sujathians put on their dancing shoes

Ruwanthi Abeyakoon

TALENT: Sujatha Vidyalaya, Nugegoda is out again with Nipuna Prathibah 3, a variety show which will harness the scattered talents of the school on one stage. It will take place on October 7 at the BMICH.

Sarah Jayah, 17, and Varuni Weerasinghe, 17, are in the English choir. “They sing four songs, one French, two English and one Sinhala. There are 50 students. We will wear red costumes. We have practices almost everyday. We enjoy a lot and have a good time,” they said.

Dulanjali Ratnayaka, 17, is King Vijaya while Samadhi Silva, 17, is a dancer in Ethihasayen Warthanayata drama. “It is a Sinhala drama about history during king’s time. Shantha Perera and Nalini De Silva are the teachers in charge of the drama. There are characters like Kuweni, Vijaya, and Buwanakabahu in the drama,” Dulanjali and Samadhi said.

“We practice two days a week. With the assistance of our teachers we have come along way. We get new experience and we learn to face challenges. Our hidden talents are brought out. We are confident and we hope to do our best for the variety show,” they added.

Rezani Ousmand, 18, Madhu Maitipe, 18, and Kalpangi Perera, 12, take part in the Latin Dance. “We practice three days a week. It is an open dance. There are 18 couples. The smallest couple is in grade two. We do jive and cha cha. It is not difficult to learn the steps as we like dancing very much. Our teacher Kasuni and Tharini Navaratne taught us the steps. We are not nervous. Whenever we get the chance we practice,” they explained.

Hiyathma Puhulwella, 14, and Aqeelah Nulair, 14, will bring Shakespearean characters alive on stage. “We will play the tragedy Macbeth. I am Lady Macbeth and Aqeelah plays the spirit. We have modernised the drama to make it more creative.

There are more characters. It was difficult at first to catch up the Shakespearean language. We got used to the language. Masters in charge Farook and Geethika De Silva helped us in many ways,” she said.

“We don’t have any stage fright. We are ready for the show. And we will present a shocking performance,” Aqeelah added.

Prabashi Hansana, 13, Rajitha Ponnamperuma, 13 and Thisuri Mithma, 13 will delight the audience with their lovely voices. They will sing patriotic songs. “Lots of children take part in this item. There are children from grades 6, 7 and 8. We have rehearsals and we hope to do our best for the variety show,” they said.

Gayasha Somathilake, 14, the leader of the orchestra joined next to express her ideas. “There are many instruments. Western music teacher and the Western Bandmaster helped us a lot. This is the first time we perform in public. There are around 35 girls taking part. I conduct the band and I’m very happy to take part in the show,” she said.

“During the holidays we had lot of practices. Children can exhibit their talents. It is the first time we are playing for a show. It is a good opportunity,” Malithi Indumini, 13, and Randima Eldeniya, 13 who play in the Eastern orchestra added.

Fathima Almaz, 14 and Sakuni Randula, 14, will perform an Indian dance. “Teacher Sanjeewani Perera trained us. We did lot of hard work. The teacher trained the dancing steps well. It will be very successful,” Fathima said.

Gashi Akalanki, 13, and Vishudha Salgado, 13, will perform a ballet on a fishing village. There are four characters. They are men, women, hearts and fish. It depicts the hardship of their life. It is a good opportunity,” they said.

“This is a show totally conducted by the children. Education is not merely learning the syllabus. There are talents in every child. The purpose of the show is to create a platform for the students for their talents.

It will also develop their skills. The children are doing very well,” Rupa Amarasingha, Principal, Sujatha Vidyalaya, Nugegoda said.

Students thanked their French teacher Kavinga and all the other teachers who trained and assisted them in putting this show together. Daily News Teen wishes all the talented teens success.

Pictures by Saman Sri Wedage

Basuru cynosure of all eyes

Milton Dharmasinghe Bulathsinhala Special corr.

HORANA: Chagi Basuru Weerakoon, Kandana, Horana a student from Thakshila Maha Vidyalaya in the Shoran Education Zone obtained the first place in Sri Lanka securing 200 marks out of a total of 200 for the first time in the history of Grade Five Scholarship Examination held this year.

Along with Thakshila Maha Vidyalaya all schools in the Horana Education Zone are very happy about Basuru Weerakoon’s results.

When the Daily News visited Basuru’s house at Kandana soon after releasing his results, many teachers, principals, friends and relatives of Weerakoon’s family had come to wish him.

Chagi Basuru Weerakoon, is an active, pleasant looking boy. When questioned him of his victory, he replied. “I got to know the results of the Year Five Scholarship Examination over the radio. I am very happy. My parents and grandfather are a very happy lot. I thought I would pass this examination, but I never expected I would be the boy to get 200 marks out of 200.”

“I didn’t go for tuition and I don’t like doing so. From Grade 2 upto Grade 5, I followed the class work, did my home work. My mother who is a teacher helped me for the examination. She gave me every support in my studies. For this examination, I didn’t take much interest but I paid attention to my school work. I played at home, watched TV (not off and on).

When I was in Grades 1,2,3 and 4 the class teachers then gave me proper guidance and paved the way for my success in the examination. My Grade 5 class teacher was always supportive of me. I attended the after school class conducted by him. I am indebted to him.”

When asked whether he would like to go to a Colombo school, he said a firm no, saying that he wants to stay at Thakshila Central School, Horana as it was easy for him to go.

Nadeera Abeyratna, Basuru’s mother is an English teacher attached to Govinna Primary School. She said, “I was sure of my son’s success, but I never thought he would be the first boy who secured 200 out of 200 marks. I never forced him to do his work, but when he was free at home and on weekends he did his studies and I gave him a little push whenever he required.

I didn’t allow my son to go for tuition. I have no faith in tuition. Tuition masters too do the same work that the school does. Sometimes, they put more burdens on the students. Therefore, I let my son to do his studies leisurely. I think that is the main reason he secured the full marks for both papers.

The other reason is that my son liked to read children’s magazines and adventurous stories. He gathered much knowledge by reading,” Basuru’s father Sanjeewa Weerakoon said, I worked in a firm in Colombo.

Therefore, I didn’t have time to look into his studies, but my wife played that part to the best she could. He likes singing, dancing and playing cricket. I allowed him to do what he liked because I saw that he studies well. I believed that he would definitely belong to the first 10 in this examination.

Principal of Thakshila Maha Vidyalaya B. Namasena said, “I am really happy about Basuru’s performances. He has brought honour to my school. This year 385 students sat for Grade 5 scholarship examination, of them 210 students got through the examination.

Basuru’s class teacher Ajith Kumara Alexander said that as a primary teacher he was very happy about Basuru’s success. He had noticed Basuru to be a very diligent and hardworking student. He did his class work very meticulously and had a very good memory. He was very interested in creative work.

This young genius Basuru has received a Rs. 100,000 cash award from the People’s Bank and life insurance from Seylan Bank. Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayaka presented these awards to Basuru.

Asitha aims to be a doctor

AMBALANGODA: Asitha Mahesh de Silva studying at Sripathi Maha Vidyalaya, Ambalangoda, Wathugedara obtained 196 marks at the Grade Five scholarship examination held this year.

Asitha said he did not attend many classes.

“I attended only Sunil Shantha Sir’s class. I studied well what Sunil Shantha Sir taught me. I watch television. The programmes. I watch are Denumay Wasanawai competition and Hapan. I read Mihira and Saviya newspapers and they assisted me in a large scale in my activities”, he said. Asitha said he expect to study well and become a doctor.

Asitha’s father is a mason by profession. Asitha lives in a small house and in addition to the education given in school, he has attended only one tuition class.

A. Sunil, a teacher at Prajapathi Maha Vidyalaya, Ambalangoda who assisted Asitha’s education, said Asitha’s studies were at a higher standard.

He said the boy studied in a logical manner and wrote essays often and showed him.

He said Asitha is a quiet boy and has the ability to face competitions.

Asitha’s father Iris de Silva said he was happy about his son’s victory.

“I have three children, the Elder son sat for the A/L examination and is working with me until the results are out. The other child is a daughter. She is sitting for the Ordinary Level examination this time. My youngest child is Mahesh. He got through the scholarship examination well,” de Silva said.

Asitha’s mother Chandrika Nugaduwa Vithana said her son was clever in education from his early stages.

Challenge Charters in Sri Lanka Lucy Crossley

INTREPID sixth formers went on a school trip with a difference - to Sri Lanka.

The 14 pupils from Charters went on a three-week expedition with World Challenge, an organisation specialising in overseas trips.

Teacher Sue Wright said: “For many of the students this was their first overseas trip without their families.

“It was terrific to see them rise so well to the challenge and hopefully it has given them the confidence and the curiosity for independent travel in the future.”

The students from the comprehensive in Charters Road, Sunningdale, spent two weeks working at Nidangala School in the town of Weligama, an area heavily affected by the 2004 tsunami.

Charters’ students refurbished the Nidangala library, painted a playground and classroom furniture, put up a new school sign and designed a mural.

They also taught English lessons and organised a sports day.

Thanks to their fund-raising efforts before the trip, the challengers were able to hire Sri Lankan contractors to carry out building work and donated books and sports equipment to their hosts.

Charters teacher Simon Jones said: “The students saw for themselves what a difference they were able to make to their host school and the friendships they forged with the children made for an emotional parting when the two weeks were over.”

When the hard work was done the group enjoyed a week of rest and relaxation, travelling around Sri Lanka, taking in a safari, a trip to a tea plantation and a visit to an elephant orphanage.

Pupils raised all the money for the trip themselves, covering not only their own expenses but also raising money to fund the project at their host school.

Holly Keen, a year 13 student at Charters, said: “It is very hard to sum up such a great experience in a few words, it has made me realise how materialistic our society is.

“It’s been an experience I’ll never forget, it was challenging but I had a wonderful time.”

(iCBerkshire.com)