DSI ‘Sithuvili’ Sri Lanka 2015 celebrates 25th anniversary by inspiring budding artists
An impressive awards presentation ceremony of the ‘Sithuvili’ art competition conducted by DSI Samson Group was held at the BMICH recently under the patronage of His Excellency the President of Sri Lanka MaitripalaSirisena.
He lauded the DSI Samson Group for coming forward and setting an example to the public via DSI ‘Sithuvili’ Sri Lanka by using its profits for the wellbeing of the country’s future children of Sri Lanka.
This year’s ceremony was of special significance since it marked the completion of 25 years for the DSI Sithuvili art competition where students above Grade 2 in schools throughout the island participated.
The event was the climax of the three-day art exhibition held at the National Art Gallery where over a thousand entries that won merit awards and above were on show.
Welcoming the guests, Mr.KulatungaRajapaksa,Managing Director, DSI Samson Group said that the project was intended as a service to the community by an indigenous corporate entity with an unblemished record for fifty three years. “Our firm was founded by Mr D. Samson Rajapaksa and the achievements over the years are in keeping with his vision where we strive to serve the community as a truly Sri Lankan company,” he stressed.
Pointing out that ‘Sithuvili’ project is held purely as a service to the upcoming generation by way of promoting their skills, he said that there is no financial or commercial gain at all from it.
He had a special word of thanks to the President for gracing the occasion in spite of the President’s busy schedule to spend time with the children.
Mr.NandadasaRajapaksa, Chairman, D.Samson and Sons (Pvt) Ltd. reminded the audience that it was the 25th anniversary of ‘Sithuvili’, a project intended for the new generation to display their talent. “The mind of the child is like a heaven. By the time the child becomes an adult it becomes a jail. Who is responsible for this unfortunate situation? Is it the children? No – it’s the adults,” he said.
Through ‘Sithuvili’, DSI Samson Group is trying to make the children’s world remain a heaven when they grow up, he added.
He stressed that civil society and the business world have a big responsibility in ensuring that such a heavenly place awaits the young ones when they become adults.
In addition to the prize-winning children, nine senior citizens received the ‘Sithumina‘ Award for their contribution towards the promotion of arts in Sri Lanka. Among them were Ven. EgodamulleAmaramoliThero who initiated the erection of the world’s largest rock-cut seated Buddha statue in his temple off Kurunegala, Indian sculptor SthapathiMuttiah, who, though a non-Buddhist, designed the statue and executed the entire operation and Mr.DevianayagampillaiEasuwaran who contributed bulk of the funds and managed the project.
Other recipients included; educationist Jezima Ismail, veteran media personality Dr Edwin Ariyadasa, longstanding songstress Latha Walpola, seasoned actress IranganiSerasinghe, the multi-talented, film director/script writer/lyricist Professor Sunil Ariyaratne and renowned musician Dr Victor Ratnayake.
The event was conceptualised and choreographed by BandulaNanayakkarawasam. The remarkably unique feature of the show was the promotion of local values especially through the memory of Professor SenerathParanavitharena, whose life and service was celebrated by the composition of a song by Mr Nanayakkarawasam. A key part of the entertainment of the ceremony was the total of 23 school children, who performed along with the expert orchestra with the objective of encouraging the development of skills among the new generation. The award-winning university students of the ‘Kavitha’ singing competition also performed with the goal of showing off their talents to the country.
This year’s ‘Sithuvili’ attracted a record number of entries exceeding 100,000, most of which were of a high standard.
The initial DSI SithuviliArtCompetition conducted in 1992 attracted 42,000 entries from schools around the island.
The total sum of gifts for participants this year was increased to Rs. 6,000,000/= with the best entries being awarded special certificates as well.
The categories and themes of the competition were:
- Grade 2 & 3 – ‘Your environment’
- Grade 4 & 5 – ‘Respecting elders’
- Grade 6,7 & 8 – ‘Let us protect our environment’
- Grade 9,10 & 11 –’Let’s live a better life through practicing good conduct’
- Grade 12 & 13 – ‘Sri Lanka in 2025’
Three all-island winners from each category and three winners from each province have been selected.
This is a major CSR project of the DSI Samson Group which is among the country’s premier business conglomerates and is the leading manufacturer of footwear and bicycle tyres in Sri Lanka.
DSI products are exported to over 100 countries across the world and the company is a fine example of how a South Asian manufacturer could produce high quality footwear worthy of the most respected and reputed brand names in the world. DSI is also the local representative for international brands, such as Reebok, Fila, Clarks, Puma, Dell and Avira.
While drawing strength and support from the community as a responsible corporate, the projects that the company has undertaken across the country, reflect on the measures taken for the wellbeing of society and the company’s commitment towards being a responsible corporate citizen.
