Stop Child Cruelty recently launched a nationwide Children's Art Competition to spread awareness to end corporal punishment. The awards ceremony for the competition was held ceremoniously on 18 November at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute in Colombo with the presence of dignitaries including the Chief Guest Lankabhimanya Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne. The competition received nearly 2,000 entries from all across Sri Lanka, showing enthusiasm and encouragement that the general public has over the cause Stop Child Cruelty. The winners of each category were presented with a Rs. 10,000 grant for education, among other attractive prices offered at the awards ceremony. Entries were requested to be sent on topics such as: “How corporal punishment affected my life, why I want corporal punishment to end in 2020, and my vision: Life without corporal punishment or what alternative disciplinary measures would I prefer instead of corporal punishment.” The competition, held under the slogan “Sri Lanka without Corporal Punishment by 2020” will hold an exhibition in 2019 to showcase all the entries in order to empower the children to actively participate in the campaign. The organisers have mentioned that the exhibition will be held annually from 2019. The competition aimed at children is one of the many events and activities organised following a very successful ‘Walk for Real Change’ held in Colombo recently. The first phase of ‘End Corporal Punishment’ was launched on 1 September, targeting schools, taking the message of eliminating corporal punishment in collaboration with the Presidential Secretariat, “Daruwan Surakimu”, and the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, and is supported by leading personalities in the capacity of Patrons, as well the Alliance of Professionals. Winners Art Age group 7-11 yrs 1st Thisaru Dandana 2nd Danithu Jayasinghe 3rd Shevoni Perera 3rd Resandi Watakatiya Age group 12-18 yrs 1st David Liyanage 2nd Sithum Shaluka 3rd Muditha Ginigathhena Poster Age group 7-11 yrs 1st Induranga Wijeratne 2nd Niyumi Rajapakshe 3rd Dewmin Pogampola 3rd Aboorva Age group 12-18 yrs 1st Sanithu Samarawickrema 2nd G.G. Oshini Wimalka 3rd Yoganathan Anoshan Poetry in English – winner Misha Miskin Poetry in Sinhala – winner Haritha Pramodya Poetry in Tamil – winner E. Seruja For more information Website: www.stopchildcruelty.com Facebook: Stop Child Cruelty