STUDENTS OF RELIEF VILLAGE WON THE 1^ST PLACE OF WORLD HABITAT DAY COMPETITION

Two students displaced by war and now living in relief villages have won the first places in junior and senior Tamil Essay Competition organized islandwidely by the National Housing Development Authority (NHDA) in view of the World Habitat Day-2009 declared by the United Nations Organization.

 

Student Ganeshalingam Anithya who have lived in Mulativu area during the war time has won the first place in islandwide World Habitat Day Junior Tamil Essay Competition and student Parimekalan Abhilash who has lived Mankulam area and now living in Tharapuram relief camp in Vavuniya has won the first place in senior section of this competition. 

These two students including 50 other students who were winners of the of Art and Essay Competitions are engaged in their studies residentially in relief villages in Vavuniya.  Awarding of Cash prizes, Awards and certificates has taken place at a special ceremony at Weerapuram relief village in Vavuniya, organized under the instructions of the Minister of Housing and Common Amenities,  Mrs.Ferial Ashraff. 

The  General Manager of the NHDA,  Mr. Luckvijaya Sagara Palansuriya and the Additional District Secretary Vavuniya Mr.S.Thirugnanasambanthan were the  chief guests of the ceremony.  The Officer-in-charge of Weerapuram Relief Village camp Captain Sarath Perera and Representative of UNCHR, Miss Eileen Pastora too participated on this occasion.

The World Habitat Day-2009 was held under the theme ”Planning our Urban Future”.  The NHDA organized theIsland wide Art and Essay competition annually under the theme of “World Habitat Day” of each year.  Five Thousands entries for Art competition and nearly 2000 entries for Sinhala Essay competition have received in this year.  Nearly 1000 entries were received for the Tamil Essay Competition and special feature of this competition was first place of junior and senior sections were won by two students in relief villages in Vavuniya.   

Ganeshalingam Anithya who won the first place of the junior section of this competition had lived in Thandikulam village in Vavuniya and had studied in Mulativu Maha Vidyalaya,  undergoing various difficulties and now she has been studying in a school in Thandikulam relief village and she said “We have never seen a city and have limited experience on city or settlements.  We got to know about how the future of the city would be from the teachers,  elderly persons and friends living in the relief village.  Now we are living peacefully in this relief village and receiving information about rest of the world.  This was the very reason we compelled to write an essay on World Habitat Day theme.  However I never thought that my essay would win the first place.  If not the justice has met out to us I wouldn’t have won in this competition”  

Parimekala Abilash of Mankulam who won the first place in senior section of this competition said that she has come to this relief village for security reasons and she said   “We have limited knowledge on cities and settlements.  Now we have a better future.  I have described in my essay how a developed city should be.  My teachers have helped me to convert my ideas to an essay.  They imparted to me knowledge on development and sustainability of cities of our country as well as cities of the world.  I utilized all this knowledge to build up my essay I was hard to believe that my essay won the first place and I was rewarded.”  

The General Manager of NHDA,  Mr.L.S.Palansuriya expressing his views said that this award ceremony can be introduced as the most important event of two month long World Habitat Day Programme.  Two students living in relief villages have won for the first time in a history of 23 years of settlement development.  Awarding rewards for them in the relief village they are living in itself has made the event more meaningful.  The significance of the success is that the rest of the students really experienced in the cities while the students of relief villages collected information from others is a significant victory. 

Additional District Secretary of Vavuniya, Mr.S.Thirugnanasambanthan,  expressing his views said the victory by this students living in relief villages undergoing harsh experiences of the war and competing with the rest of the students who are living in a peaceful environment is a significant victory.  Apart from this the third place of the All-island Senior Tamil Essay Competition has won by Atpathuran Arpathura studying in the school of Chettikulam relief village.  Nearly 50 students have won consolation prizes in the Art and Essay competition.  Certificates and awards were distributed to the winning students by the chief guest.  The cultural show and the drama presented by these students was a special feature of this ceremony.  Thousands of people from Weerapuram relief village and rest of the relief villages participated in this occasion.      

27^th October 2009.