Once again the much awaited Roo Siththam, the annual Art Competition organized by Fashion Bug proved to be a resounding success with over 61,000 entries being received from over 250 schools islandwide. Roo Siththam is the signature annual event pertaining to “Sisu Dirimaga”- Fashion Bug’s social sustainability platform dedicated to education and the uplift of Sri Lankan students.
Initiated in 2011 with the objective of identifying the creative talents of schoolchildren, this year’s theme was ‘Protect the Environment with Love and Care’, with 2016 being the 6th consecutive year that Roo Siththam is being held.
The awards ceremony and prize distribution of ‘Roo Siththam’ was held recently with the Chief Guest being Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, while the Guests of Honour were Visharadha Nanda Malini , Visharada Chandrika Siriwardane and Kalashoori Dr. Jayasiri Semage.
The competition which is organized under the supervision of the Department of Arts - Ministry of Education was held both in Colombo as well as in Kandy. There were three Age Groups 7 - 9 , 10 - 12 and 13 – 16, with the judges being lecturers from the University of Visual and Performing Arts.
The Kandy event had the Minister of Social Empowerment and Welfare S B Dissanayake as the Chief Guest, while the Guest of Honour was well known English Teacher Wilbert Ranasinghe.
Altogether 450 students were awarded at both ceremonies with medals, certificates and gift packs. The All Island Winners were gifted with a bicycle, Rs 5,000/- gift voucher, memorabilia with the winners art printed, as well as Rs 10,000 in cash.
There was an islandwide winner in the age category 13 - 16 who on two occasions had won the All Island Trophy, namely E M K L Tharusha Bandara. This year too he won the All Island Trophy and in recognition of his special achievement he was rewarded with a grand Laptop in addition to his other prizes.
“Our objective in conducting this art competition on an annual basis is to give an opportunity for schoochildren to exhibit their inherent talents and encourage the creativity that lies within them, simultaneously harnessing this creativity into the appropriate channels”, said Shabier Subian Director Fashion Bug.