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A dying art among the new generation, folk dancing and singing as well as oratory skills received a new lease on life when Union Assurance, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, staged a nationwide talent competition last year. Designed to draw out talented school children and provide them a platform to showcase their skills, the 'Pasalen Karaliyata' programme was a resounding success with over 26,00 children taking part. Entries were received from no less than 950 schools covering 19 districts. The theme last year covered traditional folk dancing, folk singing or Jana Gee and the age-old oratory art.
"As a dying art these cultural activities required recognition in terms of events and so on, as there are fewer numbers of teachers who are qualified and available to teach the disciplines. The objective was two-fold - first to engage the children in such cultural activities and to clearly point out to the teachers the value of continuing with such activities and for them to receive the recognition they deserve", says Dharshana Amarasinghe, Senior Manager Marketing at Union Assurance.
Following the resounding success of last year's event Union Assurance will continue with the programme in 2008, which has now been expanded to include art. Designed for the Year one to Year six students the art competition will have as its theme - the environment.
"We have chosen this topic with a view to create environmental awareness from an early age and to instil responsibility among the youth of this country. If we are successful in obtaining a similar number of entries as last year, we will have a large number of students who are aware of the importance of the environment, and I think this will be an achievement", adds Amarasinghe.
To ensure that this awareness goes beyond the competition and continues to be a part of their daily thinking, Union Assurance has decided to donate a tree to each participating school, which the students will nurture in collaboration with the respective Union Assurance branch office. The organisers envisage approximately 1,500 trees being planted across the country, with the primary purpose of creating a shift in the thinking among the youth of Sri Lanka.
"There is interest in the field, but what is lacking is the recognition for such activities. Although the richness of the storytelling is still present in the folk style of dancing and singing there is very little recognition, if not at all, as compared to more modern forms of dance and music like classical and Indian. This programme, which will continue to grow and encompass more and more students, will hopefully act as a catalyst for the recognition and preservation of aspects of our culture, which are fast dying out", says Amarasinghe.
