RUZAIK FAROOK
COLOMBO — The Tower School of Drama and Performing Arts successfully held the 11th Higher Diploma Awarding Ceremony for its Two-Year Full-Time Higher Diploma in Drama and Performing Arts at the Sawsiripaya Auditorium, Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo recently.
The ceremony was held under the patronage of the Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi. The keynote address, titled “The Drama and Performing Arts Teacher in Sri Lanka and Future Challenges,” was delivered by Professor Indika Ferdinandu, Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies at the University of the Visual and Performing Arts.
A total of 60 students from the 2022/2023 academic intake were awarded the Higher Diploma in Drama and Performing Arts. Four students who demonstrated outstanding academic achievement during the two-year programme received commemorative medals and cash awards of LKR 50,000 each to support their Bachelor of Education studies at the Open University of Sri Lanka.
The recipients of the special awards were:
Sachini Thakshila Pushpakumara – C. Don Bastian Jayweera Bandara Memorial Medal, Malshi Tharanga Jayarathna – Attorney-at-Law John de Silva Memorial Medal,Himasha Kavindi Wanasinghe – Attorney-at-Law Charles Dias Memorial Medal, Anupama Priyadarshani – Professor Ediriweera Sarachchandra Memorial Medal.
The programme’s highest honour, the Tower Hall Theatre Foundation Medal, together with a LKR 55,000 scholarship to pursue the Bachelor of Education degree at the Open University of Sri Lanka, was awarded to Nadeesha Kanchani Gunasinghe, who achieved the highest overall marks in all subjects during the two-year course.
Among those present were Prince Senadheera, Secretary to the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs; S.G. Palliyaguruge, Additional Secretary (Administration); Premarathna Thennakoon, Coordinating Secretary to the Minister; representatives of the Academic Management Board of the Tower School of Drama and Performing Arts; Professor Indika Ferdinandu; Dr. Tharanga Chinthana Dandeniya, Head of the Department of Drama, Oriental Ballet and Contemporary Dance at the University of the Visual and Performing Arts; Dr. D.V.M. de Silva, Dean of the Faculty of Education, Open University of Sri Lanka; Dr. Ayomi Irugalbandara, Acting Head of the Department of Secondary and Tertiary Education; K.A.D. Sandamali, Coordinator of the Drama and Performing Arts Degree Programme; parents of the diploma recipients; Dr. D.M.S. Dissanayake, Director General of the Tower Hall Theatre Foundation; and members of the Foundation’s staff.
