An opportunity to win valuable prizes, laptops for S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia students.

There are 30 laptops that will be given away for the best essays in Sinhala, Tamil and English, and you have until the end of 2nd term 2021 to participate.

]The essays will be on a topic that will challenge both your writing skills and also your ability to research into the contributions made by teachers at S. Thomas’ College who have, in their time, served the activities of the Literary Societies at School.

Students in the Middle and Upper Schools and also in the College Forms are eligible to take part, and you will need to compose your essay to fill two sides of an A4 sized sheet of paper; the minimum length will be one side of an A4 sized sheet.

Participants are encouraged to select a teacher by name and then conduct adequate research on the contribution of that particular teacher, during his or her tenure as a Teacher at STC. Students who enter this essay competition can write their piece at home and may have the support of teachers and parents in finding out the necessary details as would inform your essays.

In addition to the above essays, topics and laptops as prizes, there are to be some Special Prizes as well. These will be awarded on these suggested subjects being selected by you for your essays.

Special prize (For Sinhala) in honour of Mr C S Weerasinghe for the enormous contribution to the literary activities at STC donated by a group of old Thomians.

Special prize (For English) in honour of Mr. R F A Mendis for the enormous contribution to the literary activities at STC donated by a group of three old Thomians.

Special prize (For Tamil) in honour of Mr. C. Sachithananthan for the enormous contribution to the literary activities at STC prize donated by Mr Y Sivalingam.

Special Prizes are also to be awarded where members of the administrative staff are selected as your essay topic:

J F W A H Prins (1926-1973) prize (For English)

L W Abeywardena (1946-1981) prize (For English)

E H Ferdinands ( 1955- 1988) prize ( For English)- prize donated by Mr S T B Jayasinghe.

P. M Thilakaratne (1957-1992) prize (For Sinhala)

There are also Special Prizes for essays that deal with members of the support staff G Piyasena prize (1956-1973)(For Sinhala) S Martin (1955-1988) popularly known as Bell Martin, prize, (For Sinhala)

For Further information, please inquire from- Shyamalie Jayasekera, teacher- incharge of the Sinhala Literary Society.

Genga Baladayalan, teacher-in-charge of the Tamil Literary Society.

Inoka Muthuthantri, teacher-in-charge of the English Literary Society.

It is believed this exercise will enable the present Thomians to learn about the dedication and the contributions made to the literary activities by teachers who served the college about 50 years ago. Also this gives old Thomians an opportunity to donate a prize and show their gratitude to these teachers, says the organizing committee.