The Commercial Bank of Ceylon has opened the doors to a new season of creativity with the launch of ‘Arunalu Siththam 2026,’ inviting children to translate imagination into art in one of Sri Lanka’s most inclusive and far-reaching competitions for young talent.

With entries closing 15^th September 2026, this much-loved island-wide and international competition calls on children aged 4 to 16, both in Sri Lanka and overseas, to express themselves through art for a chance to win a share of over Rs 4.8 million in cash prizes and certificates.

Conducted entirely online, Arunalu Siththam 2026 offers a seamless platform for participation. Children can submit their artwork by uploading a scanned image to the dedicated website, www.arunalusiththam.lk along with the required details, before the closing date.

This year’s competition features themes designed to spark creativity and reflection across age groups. Children aged 4 to 7 are free to draw a subject of their choice, while those aged 8 to 10 will explore the theme of ‘Gardening.’ Participants aged 11 to 13 are invited to interpret ‘Child Protection,’ and the oldest category, aged 14 to 16, will engage with the theme ‘Displaced.’

Entries will be evaluated by an experienced panel of judges, with winners in Sri Lanka first selected at the provincial level before advancing to compete nationally. The competition continues to uphold its reputation for recognising artistic merit and originality while encouraging children to think deeply and express themselves meaningfully.

As in previous years, the rewards are substantial. National-level winners in the main age categories will receive cash prizes of Rs 100,000, Rs 75,000, and Rs 50,000 for first, second, and third places respectively. At provincial level the top three winners across the nine provinces will be awarded Rs 25,000, Rs 15,000, and Rs 10,000 each. In these categories, merit certificates will also be presented to those placing fourth to tenth.

For the pre-school category, the top three national winners will receive Rs 75,000 each, and the top three provincial winners will be awarded Rs 15,000 each.  Together, these awards celebrate outstanding effort at every stage of development, shining a spotlight on emerging talent and inspiring the next generation of achievers to reach even greater heights.

The competition also recognises the role of schools in nurturing creativity. The school in each district that submits the highest number of entries will receive a cash prize of Rs 50,000, reinforcing the importance of institutional support in developing artistic potential.

Adding an international dimension, Sri Lankan children living overseas can participate, with one winner from each age category receiving a cash prize of Rs 50,000 for the best entry from abroad.

The Bank emphasised that while participation is open to every child, winning participants who have Commercial Bank ‘Arunalu’ or ‘Isuru’ children’s savings accounts will be presented with special complimentary prizes.

Launched in 2017 and conducted virtually in recent years, Arunalu Siththam has grown into one of the country’s most inclusive and widely anticipated children’s competitions, attracting more than 23,000 entries last year alone. The initiative reflects Commercial Bank’s ongoing commitment to nurturing the creativity, confidence, and future potential of the next generation through its flagship children’s savings product, Arunalu.

By combining artistic expression with a fully digital platform that transcends geographical boundaries, Arunalu Siththam 2026 continues to provide a unique opportunity for young Sri Lankans everywhere to share their perspectives with the world.

Photo caption: The winners of the 2025 edition of 'Arunalu Siththam.'