‘Let my country awake’– Students’ Literary Festival 2023

‘Let my country awake’ – Students’ Literary Festival is organized by the University of Peradeniya annually.

It was held for the 28th time last year. There were many competition categories such as Poetry, Essay Writing, Art, Short Story and Debate in three languages – English, Sinhala and Tamil.

The Awards Ceremony of these competitions was held at the E.O.E Perera Hall of the Engineering Faculty of the University of Peradeniya on September 24, 2023.

I wrote an English poem called, ‘Goodnight to everyone’ and an English essay called, ‘Let’s protect trees’ and a Sinhala poem call, ‘Bodu Bathi Gee’. I thought I wouldn’t win from this competition but I won third place for both English Poetry and English Essay under the Primary category.

When I stepped into the University, I looked around every nook and corner of it.

There were many buildings and an enormous crowd came for the awards ceremony.

We entered the hall at 9 o’clock but the ceremony started at 10 o’clock. The chief guest was Dr. Mahesh Perera who was the founder of this literary festival in 1994.

First we stood up for the National Anthem and then for the ‘Virusisu’ song. After that the chief guest and other guests came and lit the traditional oil lamp. There were spectacular performances by the Medical Faculty students. Amidst the ceremony we got some food and a delicious drink from the students.

, UHFHLYHG ERWK P\ FHUWLÀFDWHV from Mrs. Chandima Ratnayaka, Assistant Registrar at Student Services Division of the Univerisity of Peradeniya.

They gave a cup for the First Place only. I was sad that I couldn’t take the ÀUVW SODFH EXW P\ PRWKHU WROG PH WR have courage and never give up.

This was an unforgettable day for me and I wish to become a student in this university one day.

Seja Damsuwi Abeywickrama (9 years) Southlands College, Galle