The only Northerner to qualify to the Top 20 and now in the Top 4 with great pride is seventeen year old Sivapalan Chelvaniththilan representing St.Patrick's College Jaffna, and alongside him is sixteen year old Rukshala Illukkumbura from Gateway College Colombo.
Cycling to school with a bag across his shoulder, clad in tie and thick glasses is the popular figure now in Jaffna, Chelvaniththilan. With such a long name, affectionately he is known as Chelvan and is taking part in a competition of this nature for the very first time. Interestingly he too has a passion for Chemistry and has won recognition in this field at leading competitions.
Although he is not that talkative on the show he is reported to have a good sense of humour and even quite mischievous at times. A scar just above his left eye from an accident in the garden is evidence of his mischief. He does enjoy reading, gardening and music and has recently taken to play the "Miruthangam", a percussion instrument also known as the "Instrument of the Gods", as a past time.
Chelvan is the eldest in the family with a younger sister whose parents are both attached to education. His father is a lecturer again in Chemistry at the Jaffna University whilst his mom is a lecturer in Literature.
Unfortunately Chelvan has had a very challenging childhood, given the unfortunate era in the North and the difficulties the parents have had to establish themselves in one location. His qualifying to the finals has undoubtedly brought great pride to the family and they confess that even if Chelvan does not win the title of the Spellmster the competition has provided them enough, mainly the wonderful opportunity to meet with and interact with a cross section of people from all over the country, which is a rare opportunity for a northerner.
Chelvan always picks the 1st word in any category or list the contestants are asked to select from and seems to be moving in the competition in his own style.
Rukshala is the most outgoing and talkative personality in the top 4. When asked what made her to participate in the competition, she said that it was her mother that made her to do so and now does not regret it as she has progressed thus far in the competition. Rukshala is an all-rounder with vivid interests. She loves sport, although cricket and bowling is not her forte.
Taking part in competitions and winning is one of her traits and this is amply evident when one sees the host of medals on display in her room. She loves reading and literature and takes part in a lot of debating competitions. Rukshala is the only daughter in the family and her father works as an engineer in the Colombo Port whilst her mother is a housewife, who spends a lot of time these days trying to beat the officials of the Spellmaster in picking up words for Rukshala to practice.
Gateway College is of course extremely proud that Rukshala has qualified to the Grand Finals but is not surprised as in general she is seen as an achiever in school.
She admits her first round in the competition was disastrous, but has now progressed steadily and was hardly known to miss a word in the top 20 stage of the competition.
Rukshala and Chelvan join Sarith Bandara form Trinity College Kandy and Rashidah Hassan from Good Shepherd Convent Kandy in the Grand finals. Watch the nerve wrecking moments as the Spellmaster 2010 unfolds on Sirasa TV on June 26 at 6 pm. |
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