On the 7th November from 10 am till 5pm at Kahawa School, 83 children from villages along the tsunami-hit southwest coast of Sri Lanka came together for a day of drama, culminating in an award ceremony coordinated by the Foundation of Goodness’ Rebuilding Lives Programme team.

The 6 teams participating teams were the Akurala Childrens programme,  Kahawa Childrens Programme, KPMG YOUTH GOODNESS MEMBERS, Seenigama Children's Goodness Club, Udumulla Children's Goodness Club and Ananda Daham School.

The day was made extra special by the kind and active involvement of the judges, who came for the day to give of their expertise in the area of drama and creative arts. The Foundation of Goodness would like to extend a special thanks to all judges: Mrs. Narmada Seneviratne, Batapola Junior School Music Professor and her husband, the famous Sri Lankan dramatist, stage director and creative artist Mr. Sesiri Seneviratne. Also, from the Colombo Arts Faculty, were Kalpa Rangana, Buddika Nayani and Lashani Randima.

The theme of the drama competition to celebrate World Children’s Day was ‘child labour’. Many of the dramas focused on a clichéd and outdated understanding of urban life, featuring harsh bosses who abuse their household staff, which is often featured in the TV soaps and so is a familiar theme in the imagination of rural children. However, the winning drama featured a story of child soldiers, and won because it explored the theme in a more creative and unusual manner.

The Awards:
Best actress - Shashikala Madushani – Akurala children's programme
Best actor - T. Sasanka – Akurala children's programme
Best Supporting actress - Rumeshi Dinsara - Seenigama Children's Goodness Club
Best Supporting actor - Shan Madumal -KPMG Youth Goodness Members
Best Script writing - Kasun Geenath - Ananda Daham School
Best Music - Kavindu Rashmal – KPMG Youth Goodness Members
Best surround decor Stage play- Sasitha Chithrarathna – KPMG Youth Goodness Members
Best make up - Samith Rasantha and T. Tharaka Punash

Award for Best Drama:
1st place - Akurala children's programme
2nd place - Seenigama children's goodness club
3rd Place - Ananda Daham school

Special Achievement Awards:
Chathurika Dilani - Seenigama Childrens Goodness Club
Dilsha Madushani - Akurala children's programme
Shehan Rashmika - Ananda Daham School

At the close of the event, Kushil expressed his admiration for the RLP team, who work with such dedication to ensure the ongoing wellbeing of the children and youth of the tsunami-affected communities. “we must not forget” he said “that the affects of those devastating hours, weeks and months when the world as they knew it seemed to have fallen apart, will not disappear. We must continue to support the children and youth of our communities, while also giving them opportunities and support that they would never have had before. These children are bright, enthusiastic and extremely confident. Given the support, they are flourishing.”

“The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches but to reveal to him his own.” ~Benjamin Disraeli

2010.02.01