The year 2010 heralded the Nineteenth Annual Prize Giving of Amal International School, Colombo. On Saturday June 12, 2010 the students of Amal past and present, together with the Chairman and the Board of Directors, the Principal, deputies and the staff were honoured by the presence of the First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa as the Chief Guest at their Annual Prize Giving held at the Navarangahala, Royal College.
 Madam Shiranthi Rajapaksa created history in the school, since she was the first lady Chief Guest in the Nineteen years of Amal's existence. It was a red letter day for all Amalians as it was the first occasion a First Lady had graced this function. Prize winners and their proud parents were overjoyed as the First Lady consented to hand over all awards to the winners.
Madam Rajapaksa was given a rousing welcome by the packed house when she arrived for the ceremony. The Montessori children welcomed her with a beautifully rendered welcome song.
The Chairman, Mr. M. S. M. Liyawdeen in his welcome address mentioned the significant role Madam Rajapaksa played in the field of Education, especially as a founder and Director/Principal of six Carlton Pre Schools located in various parts of the country. He also recalled the tremendous contribution she had made towards the welfare of the needy and the underprivileged.
She was also instrumental in setting up Siriliya Saviya a voluntary organization to ameliorate the displaced in the North and East. She has undertaken numerous visits to the North and East with a view to assisting orphans and widows.
 Every year Amal International honours the brightest students of each Grade for each subject. The school awards a unique Scholarship called Alama Iqbal Scholarship for the best students who score more than 300 marks at their annual Grade Five Scholarship examination.
To achieve this scholarship students are tested in English, Mathematics, and General Knowledge. The Scholarship provides free education to the winners for the entire duration of his school career subject to maintaining his ranking within the first three in the class. This year's award went to Ameen Muthaliph and Aman Sahly.
Awards were also given to the best performers in the G.C.E O/L and A/L examinations. The O/L award was carried away by Rihab Faisal and the A/L award went to Fazlur Rahman. Madam Rajapaksa also gave away the most coveted Prize of the year "The Best Amalian Award" This year two students were awarded, M.Hibshy Mowlana and Munshif Munzir.
Amal International also boasts of Annual Inter grade competitions on Meelad un Nabi celebrations and Language Day, where students take part in competitions in English and Sinhala. English, Sinhala and Arabic are taught at Amal from Grade one upwards. All Amalians are all-rounders, be it in studies, sports, or other extra-curricular activities. Each child is given an opportunity to shine in his field and develop his social and educational skills. In the field of sports Amalians have for over two years maintained the leadership role in Basketball having on many occasions won at national levels.
Chairman, Mr. Liyawdeen has been the driving force behind many of the innovations that have taken place since his appointment. The entire school has been given a new facelift. The Science Laboratory was refurbished, the media room was renovated and the ultra modern IT Laboratory given a new face.
Table Tennis was declared open by Mr Liyawdeen this month. Amalians were given the opportunity to become members of the Boys Scout Movement when the Inaugural celebration was held on "Amal Day" which fell on January 29 2010.
At Amal the students are taught not only how to make a living, but also how to live. Quote: "Value added education is the panacea for the social, political and economical malaise. It will remove all evils and if this prescription was not applied, people would be undone."
All Amalians fall into one big ethnic family. Although the school is basically Muslim, it has opened its doors to students of all communities, thus a fair number of Sinhala, Tamil and Christian children form part of the student population. Many of them enjoy top positions in the Board of Prefects and various other activities of the School.
In the recent past the school launched the Amal Scholarship Fund with a view to offer scholarships to underprivileged children.
This facility is offered to students of all communities. Amal has a highly qualified and experienced staff which is an asset and the reason for the unprecedented results at O Levels and A Levels.
According to the Holy Quran "Allah will elevate the position of one who seeks knowledge" and Amalians uphold and maintain the values imparted by this saying.
May the Almighty Allah shower his choicest blessings on all Amalians.
Mrs. A. R. Mihlar,
Deputy Principal (Academic) |
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