Funday Times

Dirijaya Awards 2005 for Young Achievers
By Nadia Fazlulhaq
The National Dirijaya Awards 2005 Ceremony was held on the February 28, 2006 at the Galle Face Hotel, Colombo. Many awards were presented to talented differently-abled persons for achievements under the categories of Academic, Professional, Entrepreneurship, Sports, Creative and Performing Arts and also special awards.

For the first time in SriLankan history three differently-abled young achievers received awards for their talents. The winner of the Junior Dirijaya Awards 2005 for sports was Lahiru Chamara A. Gunawardene who is twelve years old. He won the 100m races at the Disabled Sports, running with an artificial limb, as he lacks the lower part of one leg.

Do you remember the little girl who had no hands and sings on the streets in the film " Samanala Thatu"? She is Dulanjali Ariyatileka who won the award for Creative and Performing Arts of the Junior Dirijaya Awards. Dulanjali was physically disabled since birth. She does not have hands but she uses her feet to write, play musical instruments etc. Inspite of her disabilities, she has always been a cheerful child with an excellent brain for studying. She can paint, play the organ, use the computer and sew, threading a needle with her toes. She is also a good singer. Though she has not gone to school she is taught in the home and has excelled in her studies. She became a Child Star after the film "Samanala Thatu".

Abdul Nasser Mohamed Razak won the Junior Dirijaya Awards 2005 for Academic Achievement. Razak is eleven years old and is hearing and speech impaired. Razak studies at the Islamic Centre for Physically Handicapped, in Doolmala, Thihariya. Along with normal children, he has passed his scholarship exam with 137 marks and was placed 38 at the District Level. The pass mark for that district was 127.This is the first time a child with this disability has passed the examination from the school. He is a bright student and shows high levels of intelligence.

A special award was presented to Kosala Dullewa, who is 17 years old and affected with Down's Syndrome. He performed a wonderful solo oriental dance at the ceremony.

These children have set a good example to all Sri Lankan children. In our country over 1.7 million people have disabilities of some form. So we should keep in mind that differently-abled persons too should get equal opportunities, love and care.

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