The spelling competition which is now popular among all age groups in the island and is currently being telecast on Sirasa TV reached the Eastern Province last weekend where 302 contestants were seen participating in the 7th quarter final of the series.

With such a large crowd, 3 competitions were held within a span of 2 days to select the 34 spellers who would move into the semi finals, where 250 top spellers in the country are tipped to compete.
Last year, 2 contestants from Mahmud Ladies' College Kalmunai went all the way to the Top 20 and one of them, namely, K.Fathima Rustha, qualified to the Top 6. This year, 17 students from the school got through the preliminary dictation round to the quarter finals witnessed last week. Other schools from the Ampara district that did really well and got through to the quarter finals were, Al Hamra Maha Vidyalaya Oluvil, Al Ashraq Madhya Maha Vidyalaya Nintavur, Al Manar Central College Kalmunai and Wesley High School Kalmunai.

From the Trincomalee District the school that did tremendously well was R.K.M. Sri Koneswara Hindu College, with 18 students making it to the quarter finals. Following them were, Sri Shanmuga Hindu Girls' College Trincomalee, Kinniya Al-Aqza College, Kinniya Muslim Girls' Maha Vidyalayam, St. Mary's College Trincomalee and St. Joseph's College Trincomalee.

Vincent Girls' High School Batticaloa stood out in the preliminary rounds from the Batticaloa district with 17 succeeding to the Quarters. Closely behind them were, St. Cecilia's Girls Maha Vidyalaya Batticaloa with 16 students doing well. Valaichenai Hindu College and Meera Balika Maha Vidyalaya Batticaloa were the other two schools that had more than 10 get through to the quarter finals.

With the competition inching closer to the Semi Finals continue to watch Sirasa TV every Sunday at 6 pm to find out who will qualify to the Top 250.