TVR Trust Essay and Video Competition 2024

CategoryTVR Competition 2024

Date of Completion13th March 2024

Award Ceremony of the “Heta Dinana Sri Lankawak”, “A roadmap for a secure tomorrow” Essay & Video Competition organised by the Tennyson & Vinitha Rodrigo Trust was held on Wednesday 13^th March, 2024 at the Lotus Room, BMICH. The competition was designed to awaken the minds of the youth of Sri Lanka to think afresh on issues faced by the country and elicit intelligent and practical solutions to those.

The entries were evaluated in two stages by a 20-member panel consisting of senior academics of the state universities and eminent professionals of the corporate sector covering the three language categories. Cash prizes and certificates were awarded to the top three entries in each of the three language segments. Consolation prizes were also given under each category for the convincing essays and videos.

Emeritus Professor Siri Hettige, former Dean of the Faculty Arts University of Colombo, one of the final round judges, delivered the keynote address. He referred to the transformation of Germany after the Second World War from an insane society to a sane society and its leap to the foremost industrial state in Europe within 20 years. He also stressed on the rights and the responsibility of the youth to shape the society and its attitudes to make a country a better place to live. His message was aligned with the vision of Settlor of the Trust, late Mr. Tennyson Rodrigo who exhorted that schools, universities and other institutions of higher learning have a compelling role to create and foster thought leaders and change agents who could transform Sri Lanka to a modern and forward-looking nation in the international arena.

The group photos of award recipients and the panel of judges capture memorable moments of the event.

This competition, was the first of its kind orgnaised by the Trust and the winning entries are displayed on the Trust website www.tvrtrust.lk so that it will act as a pool of ideas for any interested party to access. The organisers hope to hold similar events at frequent intervals to encourage critical thinking and expression of creative ideas by the youth of Sri Lanka.

While congratulating the award winners, the Trust also envisages to create a network of the contestants to further debate their ideas, stimulate further thinking and develop a think tank of thought leaders.

Sinhala category

Tamil category

Prize winners and recipients of Certificates of Commendation with a section of the Panel of Sinhala medium judges: Left to right- Ruvini Abeykoon, Tharushika Deshapriya, Prabhani Dharmasiri, Minoli Hettiarachchi, Chalani Karunasena, Judge Achinthya Bandara, Snr. Lecturer – Department of Sinhala, University of Colombo, Professor Chaminda Padmakumara, Head of Department – International Relations, University of Colombo, Janaka Suranga, Kavindu Pemmawadu – Winner, Third Prize, Judge Chamila Ruwan Kumari, Creative Director, Sarva Integrated, Judge Prasad Weerasinghe, Lecturer – Dept of Secondary & Tertiary Education, Open University of SL, Bhathiya Rajapaksha, Co-winner, First Prize, Dr. Ayomi Irugalbandara, Snr. Lecturer, Dept. of Secondary & Tertiary Education, Open University of SL, Senior Professor Sandagomi Coperahewa, Head of Department – Sinhala, University of Colombo, Amali Samarakoon, Winner, Second Prize, Yasiru Bandara, Co-winner, First Prize and Damith Weerasoori.Not in the photo: Sashika Kulasekara and Sudashani Pinto.

Prize winners and recipients of Certificates of Commendation with a section of the Panel of Tamil medium judges: Left to right- Fathima Aqeela, Siritharkumar Nilushan, Arasaratnam Jeyavaram, Shiyannia Ravinantha, Winner, First Prize, Safra Sahabdeen, Yazeer Arafath, Winner, Third Prize, Judge U L Yakoob, News Director – Tamil, SLRC, Judge Leo Nirosha Darshan, Assitant News Editor, Virakesari, Tharmendra Roisten Manoj, Winner, Second Prize, Hariharan Puvanendran and Fathima Hifasha.Not in the photo: Sandhiya Kumari, Nagoor Rusan, Jawshar Nadha and Dilaksan Visuvarththinam

English category

Prize winners and recipients of Certificates of Commendation with a section of the Panel of English medium judges: Left to right- Isuru Abeysundara, Co-winner, Third Prize, Thanjuja Pasindu Udayanga, Thapzeer Banu, Hasitha Wathiyage, Hiranya Fernando, Winner, Third Prize, Thihan Don Paul, Salome Navamani, Winner, First Prize, Judge Dr. George I H Cooke, Judge Dr. Darshi Thoradeniya, Judge Professor Siri Hettige, Shehan Paul, Winner, Second Prize, Januth Mahen Prabhashwara, Aquil Rifky, Shehan de Silva, Sahana Pussewela, Co-winner, Third Prize.Not in the photo: Asitha Fernando, Akeef Razeen and Safiya Liyawudeen