• Photography competition and exhibition held on 8 March

The Anula Vidyalaya Photographic Art Society recently presented Vidusa 2022, an inter-school photography competition and exhibition, the 12th edition of this event.

The event took place at the school premises on 8 March. According to Anula Vidyalaya Photographic Art Society President Disandi Kavinya, they received 4,000 submissions, mainly from Colombo but also from schools across the island. She added that the panel of judges consisted of photographers Jayanath Illangakoon, Ranjani Perera, and Ravindra Ranasinghe.

Anula Vidyalaya Photographic Art Society teacher-in-charge Ishani Narahenpita shared in her message for Vidasa 2022 that the last time the photography exhibition and competition was held in a physical setting was in 2019. They were unable to hold the event the following year, but did hold Vidasa online in 2021. “The 12th Vidasa was scheduled to be held in 2022, but due to the crisis in the country, it had to be postponed to this year,” she explained.

Musician and photographer Dayan Witharana was the chief guest of the event and, in his message, described photography as an art form that had the power to capture emotions, memories, and moments in time that would otherwise be lost. “It is essential to teach photography in schools as it enables students to develop a creative eye and a critical perspective towards the world around them.”

He went on to say that photography competitions like Vidasa are important as they encourage young photographers to showcase their work and inspire others to take up the art form. “I commend the Anula Vidyalaya Photographic Art Society for organising such a wonderful event and for nurturing the talents of the next generation of photographers.”

The guest of honour was Chandrasena Perera.

The competition was held under the inter-school category and the intra-school category, with winners selected under the themes of colour, monochrome, and wildlife.

Winners

Inter-school colour

First: Ravishka Fernando, Musaeus College, Colombo 

Second: Damika Rajapaksha, Dharmaraja College, Kandy

Third: Gagani Manubhashi, Mahamaya Girls’ College, Kandy

Inter-school monochrome

First: Mithila Devinda Senadeera, Isipathana College, Colombo

Second: Dulitha Kalindu Rajapaksha, Dharmaraja College, Kandy

Third: A.A. Navindu Dulaksha, Nalanda College, Colombo

Inter-school wildlife

First: Ramika Thevindu Baduge, D.S. Senanayake College, Colombo

Second: Alex Umesha De Silva, D.S. Senanayake College, Colombo

Third: Vinsara Senanayake, Thurstan College, Colombo

Intra-school colour

First: Gayathri Kaushalya

Third: R. Lethmini Ayendra Perera

Intra-school monochrome

First: Chenuli Akna Uluwaththa

Intra-school wildlife

First: Hashini Januja Nalawaththa

Second: Disandi Kavinya