SAARC Diary: Run up to India’s 75 Years of Independence: Painting Competition in Sri Lanka
NEW DELHI, Apr 13: Sri Lankan children from care homes converged in Colombo from all over Sri Lanka on Sunday for the final round of the nationwide painting competition organised by Colombo Expatriates Cultural Association (CECA), a voluntary organisation of expatriates consisting primarily of Indians – with support from the High Commission of India, as part of pre-celebration of India’s 75 years of Independence in August 2022.
The ‘India @ 75’ celebrations in Sri Lanka comprised events and activities in the run up to completion of 75 years of India’s Independence. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched ‘75 weeks before the 75th Anniversary of Independence’ in India on March 12, followed by a formal launch celebration in Sri Lanka on April 9 with the inauguration of ‘India Corner’ at the Nagananda Institute for Buddhist Studies.
According to the Indian High Commission in Colombo, Gopal Baglay, the High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, was the Guest of Honour and Prof. G.L Peiris, Minister of Education, was the Chief Guest at the final round painting competition. Other dignitaries in attendance included State Minister Piyal Nishantha de Silva. The dignitaries praised the initiative as an example of good people-to-people relations between India and Sri Lanka, emphasising the tremendous importance of the enriching experience for the children.
The painting competition was divided into three sections: Sub Junior, Junior, and Senior. In the first round of the competition, 4,375 students from child care homes across Sri Lanka participated. Contestants from all provinces were invited along with one care-giver at the final round. While the top three winners in each of the three categories received SLR 1,00,000, SLR 75,000, and SLR 50,000 in addition to various other prizes, certificates, and medals, all 60 finalists received cash awards, desktop computers, and other gifts provided by various sponsors.
(Venkatesh Iyer)
