 By now, the Spellmaster sensation that's gripped Sri Lanka is a household name, in most households, that is. If yours hasn't seen it yet, you've been missing out on quite a treat. The show in question is the CIMA Spellmaster, aired on Saturday on Sirasa TV between 6 and 7 pm. Its popularity has grown incredibly fast, and within a period of just 2 months is enjoying the coveted rating of the most popular educational show on air in Sri Lanka.
The main attraction of the show and the feature CIMA is quite proud of, is that it brings together children from all around the country, and places them on a level playing field, where hard work has as big a part to play as natural mastery of the English language. It allows them to engage their competitive streak, while still championing fair play, traits which are in great demand in today's challenging business environment. Sri Lanka has its fair share of talented people in the global limelight in recognition of their individual skills and accomplishments, and it's to be hoped that the Spellmaster will encourage the new generation of stars to recognise the possibilities the world holds.
The third competition of the top 100 spellers in the Spellmaster showcased the determination to succeed of students from around the country. Some of these lexically-gifted students claimed that they'd stopped seeing the dictionary as a thick old book gathering dust on a shelf somewhere, and instead finding it a useful ally in their battle to a place in the top 20 and of course the title of the Spellmaster.
Rashidah Hassan Good Shepherd Convent Kandy
Kushani HettiarachchiH Tangalle Balika Vidyalaya
A.R.Fathima Shafana Km/Mahmud Ladies College Kalmunai
K.R.Althaf St.Anthony's College (Boys') Kandy |
A pair of students from Jaffna was a great example of good sportsmanship - or in this case, sports-person-ship - when Usshanthi Pulenthiraraj from Vadamaradchy Central Ladies' College was the last to bow out of the top 500 competitors in the Northern district, defeated of course after a valiant fight and a tie breaker, Sivakumaran Gowthaman from Vavuniya Tamil Madhya Maha Vidyalaya who had earlier qualified into the top 100 decided to give his seat to Usshanthi as he believed he was going to be busy with another competition that was taking him overseas.
This semi-final was a close-run race, with twenty students - all showing a tremendous improvement from previous rounds - facing off for four places in the Top Twenty. The first elimination was swift, but there were five left standing at the end of it. Further bouts sent two on to the Finals, while three stayed onstage, each of them hoping to fill one of the two places left. The emotions, the reactions and the spirit were all worth witnessing.
At the end of an intense contest, the four spellers who won entry into the Final Round of the Spellmaster are:
Spelling has never been more interesting. Don't miss out on the excitement and be left out of the loop. Find out what happens next by tuning into Sirasa TV on Saturday at 6 pm to see for yourself. |
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