A budding artist is the latest to bring fame to Seenigama, joining the growing numbers of children and youth that have been excelling from the region hitherto in the areas of sport and education.
 ‘Team Spirit’ by K.D. Sriyan Chamod Dilshan
 Letter of confirmation to Sriyan, from Laureus
The Foundation of Goodness (FoG) is proud to introduce this talented artist through this story filed by Quenendra Guetter, the Foundation’s Development Manager (volunteer).
Celebrating talent
K.D. Sriyan Chamod Dilshan has been announced as winner of the international Laureaus Sport for Good Foundation drawing competition. His picture was chosen from over 400 entries submitted from sports projects around the world, and was selected because of its clear and simple depiction of ‘Team Spirit’.
The picture will be engraved onto the back of special edition watches to be sold by IWC Schaffhausen (International Watch Company, Switzerland) to raise funds for Laureus Sport for Good Foundation.
 Sriyan, winner of the international
Laureaus Sport for Good Foundation drawing competition
Sriyan is 12 years old and lives with his mother and father in KPMG-LOLC Housing Complex, Werallana, Hikkaduwa adjacent to Seenigama. He is a promising student, achieving excellent marks at school and with ambitions to become a mechanical engineer. His picture depicts four people standing in a circle, and he explains that these four people represent Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims and Burghers. He was inspired to draw this picture after reading stories in the newspapers. As well as drawing, his favourite hobby is cricket.
 Sriyan with his proud parents
Sriyan was living with his parents and four brothers in Totagamuwa village when the tsunami hit. Their home was destroyed as the waves swept through the village, leaving scenes of terrible devastation in its wake. Luckily the family was able to benefit from the success of the Foundation of Goodness (FoG) in coordinating international aid for the benefit of those affected, and in April 2005 were re-housed in the nearby KPMG-LOLC Housing Complex, in a home provided by the Foundation of Goodness (FoG). All four brothers are now married and are very proud
of their younger brother for achieving such success.
 Sriyan’s winning entry
The drawing competition was coordinated in Seenigama by the Laureus funded Seenigama Sports Project, one of 30 sectors run by the Foundation of Goodness for the benefit of village children and youth. Established in 1997 and instrumental in rebuilding the area after the tsunami in 2004, the Foundation of Goodness (FoG) provides a unique holistic rural community development model, taking the root causes of poverty and instilling aspiration and empowerment through the provision of skills, housing, employment, healthcare, education and sports.
The involvement of famous cricketer Mutthiah Muralidaran with the Foundation of Goodness (FoG) as a trustee, helped to pave the way for the cricketing fraternity to get associated with the Foundation. It was thanks to him that Ian Botham was instrumental in bringing together the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation and the Foundation of Goodness (FoG) and thus the Seenigama Sports Project was conceived. The Project has been running since 2005 when it was launched by Laureus Academy members Steve Waugh and Kapil Dev. Thanks to the support from the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation around 1,200 children a year benefit from unprecedented facilities and outstanding coaching in 8 schools for volleyball, swimming, badminton, netball, athletics and cricket. This project brought families and communities together after the tsunami, to help rebuild confidence and overcome the trauma of the devastating events of 26th December 2004 through the power of sport. The project is now focusing on using sport to teach life skills and on improving the mental, physical and social health of young people in the region.
Congratulations!
 FoG founder/trustee Kushil Gunasekera
breaks the happy news to Sriyan in October 2008
The founder/trustee of the Foundation of Goodness (FoG) Kushil Gunasekera was extremely happy to hear of Sriyan’s success and gladly broke the news to the boy. “Emphasizing the theme of unity is so timely and relevant in today’s context displaying not only talent but wise thinking, which may have enabled him to win the hearts of the judges despite its simplicity” Gunasekera said, adding that “this would inspire Sriyan to greater confidence to move forward which again are the exposure and facilities that paved the way for better things to begin”. Gunasekera also had words of praise for the wonderful work Laureus has been doing saying “Laureus Sport for Good Foundation should be commended hugely for its amazing project over the last three years to alleviate the traumatic status to rebuild the lives through the power of sport”.
In 2009 the Laureus Sports for Good Foundation will have one of its Academy members visit Seenigama in order to present a prize to Sriyan and to also witness firsthand the unique sports project sponsored by Laureus and the holistic village plan that the Foundation of Goodness (FoG) has successfully developed.
“Always aim for achievement,
and forget about success”
- Helen Hayes
2008.11.24 |
