The very best of school talent
Showcasing the very best of young school drama talent, the finals of the All Island Inter-School Buddhist Short Drama Contest organised by the YMBA Colombo was staged on September 13 at YMBA Borella.
Organised for the 34th year, the drama contest was open to schools and dhamma schools island-wide and the finals of the competition featured four Buddhist dramas selected from the preliminary rounds -Pragna by Sri Punyodaya Dhamma School Panadura, Uththama Pooja by Sucharitha Vardana Dhamma School Narahenpita, Eseya Maharaja by Sarasavi Dhamma School Peradeniya and ‘Danan Dudanan’ by Bodhimaluwa Dhamma School Ja Ela.
The drama Eseya Maharaja bagged the first place while Danan Dudanan, Uththama Pooja and Pragna were adjudged second, third and fourth respectively.
Dhananjaya Nadun Bandara Jayasinghe who acted in Eseya Maharaja won the Best Actor award while W.A. Anjali Dilrukshika who acted in Uththama Pooja was chosen as the Best Actress. The Award for the Best Director went to Amitha Rabbidhigala (Eseya Maharaja).
Gracing the occasion as the Chief Guest was the famous stage actor and Lyricist Lucien Bulathsinghala while Prof. Dela Bandara, Nissanka Diddeniya and Sampath Perera were the judges at the finals.