The Foundation of Goodness (FoG) has been consistently striving to bring out and expose untapped talent in Seenigama and its region and to nurture this through positive encouragement and due recognition.

Amilalal, Apsara and Pulina lead the way
to the felicitation ceremony while chief guest
Amanda Weerasinghe follows behind

So it was on the 3rd of May that friends and family came together at a simple yet meaningful ceremony at Seenigama,  to felicitate three exceptionally talented youngsters – Thushari Apsara, D.B.A.K. Amilalal Danushka and Ashan Pulina Tharanga. Presiding over the felicitation were chief guest Amanda Weerasinghe and Kushil Gunasekera, the FoG’s founder/trustee. “I’ve always believed that due to the lack of facilities and exposure, children and youth from less previleged backgrounds aren’t able to make the kind of progress despite their huge talent and skill. As such the achievements of the 3 outstanding young adults sould not go unnoticed, and thereby through recognizing their achievements it is hoped and and wished that this would be an inspiration for others to be encouraged to reach such goals” Gunasekera said.

Friends and family look on as FoG founder/trustee Kushil Gunasekera lights the traditional oil lamp

The three stars of the evening Thushari Apsara, D.B.A.K. Amilalal Danushka and Ashan Pulina Tharanga have all excelled in various fields.

Thushari Apsara, D.B.A.K. Amilalal Danushka
and Ashan Pulina Tharanga receive their awards

Young Tharushi Apsara, a conscientious student of G. Sangamitta Girls School, Galle brought home the best results for the 2007 Ordinalry Level examination in the village. She earned an ‘A’ each for nine subjects - Buddhism, Sinhala Language & Literature, English, Mathemayics, Social Studies & History, Music (Sinhala), Development Studies, Helath & Physical Education and Bussiness & Accounts Studies and one ‘B’ for Science & Technology. Desirous of pursuing higher studies, Apsara’s next goal is to pass the Advanced Level examination with flying colours, for which she is offering 3 subjects - Business, Economics & Accounts. Her aim is to take the career path of an accountant.

Thushari Apsara’s family are proud and happy
about her academic performance

Receiving recognition at the felicitation ceremony alongside Thushari Apsara were D.B.A.K. Amilalal Danushka and Ashan Pulina Tharanga. 15 year old Pulina is a Werallana lad (a neighbouring village of Seenigama) who has excelled in cricket. He won the ‘u-15 most outstanding school boy cricketer runner up award’. A member of the u-15 team at Sri Devananda College in Amabalangoda, Pulina’s skill as a leg spin bowler and an all-rounder was evident in the all island cricket tournament, where he captured 42 wickets in 08 matches and scored 420 runs during the season. This performance enabled Pulina to secure a place on the Sri Lanka School’s u-15 team that toured Malaysia in April. Meanwhile, 18 year old Amilalal, a student of Sri Sumangala College Hikkaduwa, brought fame to Seenigama when he won the Sri Lanka Novices Aquatic Championship 50m free-style event conducted by the Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union. He also came third in the 100m free-style event at the same meet. His feat was achieved in just 6 months of training at the Bryan Adams swimming pool, which was a kind donation courtesy the Canadian superstar. Amilala’s achievement earned him a monthly scholarship from the chief guest at the felicitation Amanda Weerasinghe.

With such talent emerging from Seenigama and its region its no surprise that many are happy to support in whichever way they can, to nurture latent talent.

MAS/Speedo swimwear presentation ceremony
in Seenigama

MAS, a giant in the garment industry which also manufactures Speedo swimwear, was one such that stepped in to assist the swimming talent in Seenigama and the surrounding areas of Werallana, Thotagamuwa, Hikkaduwa, Berathuduwa, Udumulla, Malwenna, Peraliya, Thelwatta, Kahawa and Baddegama, by kindly handing out swimwear to 295 grateful girls and boys. A simple yet colourful presentation ceremony, fittingly held next to the Bryan Adams swimming pool, marked the kind gesture.

These underprevileged children who have so far being benefiting from the Bryan Adams swimming pool, will no doubt put this swimwear to good use.

“Victory belongs to the most persevering”
- Napoleon Bonaparte

2008.06.09