Over 73,000 Entries Culminate in a Grand Ceremony Honouring the Creative Spirit of Sri Lankan Children

The 11th edition of the Siddhalepa Kekulu Punchi Siththaru Art Competition reached a grand conclusion on December 14, 2025, with a prestigious awards ceremony held at the J.R. Jayewardene Centre. Organised by Hettigoda Industries (Pvt) Ltd, this long-standing initiative continues to serve as a vital platform for preschool and grade one children from every district across the island to showcase their creative potential.

This year, the competition invited young participants to illustrate the heartfelt theme of My Family, resulting in a staggering submission of over 73,000 artworks. The immense volume of entries reflects the deep-rooted popularity of the program and presented a significant challenge for the panel of esteemed judges, which included renowned artists Mrs. Kusum Mangalika and Mr. Bandula Harischandra, who were tasked with selecting the top 100 entries from a vast pool of talent.

The ceremony was a vibrant celebration of youth and imagination, where the top achievers were recognised for their artistic excellence. H.M. Dahami Vibhavi from Supipi Pre School in Matara emerged as the first-place winner. At the same time, H.P. Nethum Nemsara of Star Kids Pre School in Colombo and Sanuli Thanya Liyanage from Lyceum International School in Gampaha secured the second and third places, respectively.

These winners were awarded significant cash prizes, with the first-place recipient receiving Rs. 50,000, followed by Rs. 30,000 for second place and Rs. 20,000 for third place. Furthermore, children ranked from fourth to tenth received Rs. 10,000 each, and those from the eleventh to the hundredth position were awarded Rs. 5,000 each, ensuring that a wide group of talented youngsters felt the reward of their hard work.

Beyond the monetary awards, the winners received a comprehensive package of gifts designed to support their education and daily lives. Each child in the top 100 was presented with a Hatton National Bank passbook featuring an initial deposit to encourage the vital habit of saving from a young age. Additional prizes included Kekulu school bags, lunch boxes provided by Phoenix, gift parcels of Kekulu products, and contributions from CBL Munchee and Lion Advertising.

Every child also received a valuable certificate of participation, while the top three winners were presented with medals to mark their exceptional achievement. This holistic approach to rewarding the children highlights the commitment of Siddhalepa and its partners to the well-being and development of the next generation.

Our goal is to foster the natural creativity of our children while strengthening their connection to family values and our rich local heritage," said Asoka Hettigoda, Chairman of the Hettigoda Group. "Through the Kekulu Punchi Siththaru program, we aim to provide a platform that balances artistic expression with the healthy development of the next generation. We are committed to nurturing these young talents, ensuring they grow into well-rounded individuals who will make meaningful contributions to the future of our country”.

The success of the 11th Kekulu Punchi Siththaru was made possible through the support of several dedicated partners. Fragrance Oils-Far East (Pvt) Ltd served as the main sponsor, while Neth FM acted as the official radio partner and Funday Times of Wijeya Newspaper Ltd as the official print media partner. Hatton National Bank supported the initiative as the official banking partner, with Phoenix Industries Ltd, Ceylon Biscuits (Pvt) Ltd, and Lion Advertising joining as official gift partners.