CHATHURYA THE MULTI-TALENTED LITTLE STAR
TWELVE-YEAR-OLD CHATHURYA VICHAKSHANA WIJENDRA WHO IS A YEAR SEVEN STUDENT AT SUJATHA VIDYALAYA, NUGEGODA HAS BEEN DISPLAYING EXCEPTIONAL TALENTS IN DANCING, MUSIC, ACTING AND SPEECH, WINNING TOP PLACES IN ALL-ISLAND COMPETITIONS.
She won the first place in the all-island English stage play contest organized by Britain, clinching the first place and gold medal this year.
This year she was also adjudged the best child performer in the Light of Asia Contest organized by the YMBA.
Last year she won the first place for her title role in The Little Match Girl in the all-island English Drama Festival.
From 2011 to 2012 she won the first place in the speech, music and drama competitions depicting her multiple skills in various spheres.
She made her debut public performance in Derana Little Star bagging the fifth place out of some 26,000 con- testants in the Under Eight category. Here she displayed her talents in Upcountry, low country, Sabaragamu and free style dancing. The same year she clinched the third place in the ITN open event held to mark World Children’s Day.
She also won the second place in the all-island schools music and dance competition in 2008 in addition to another gold medal for her prowess in upcountry dancing.
Two years later she won the first place in the open dancing event organized by ITN.
As a member of the Sujatha Vidyalaya drama club she has acted in Peter Pan, Little Match Girl, The Magic Boots, Cinderella and The Diamond Castle.
Chathurya has completed the first stage of the Bharatha Natyam exam too.
“I am grateful to my teachers who have guided me on the right track. I will never forget my year one dance teacher Rangi Surani Cooray who paved the way for me to enter the Derana Little Star competition. Mr. Chinthaka Jayatunga of the police department also groomed me in various dancing styles. I study Bharatha Natyam under Mrs. Lakshmi of Fine Art Temple. My school teachers Manoji Fernando and Heshal Rajiah are teaching me English drama and Theatre. I am also thankful to elocution teacher Tania Fernando,” said Chathurya who is showing great potential of being a future star.