Prize Giving
TO RECOGNISE THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF STUDENTS SITTING CALSDA EXAMINATIONS, PRIZE GIVINGS ARE HELD ANNUALLY BY THE ACADEMY
At the conclusion of the Academic Year, candidates who excel at the Practical and Written examinations at Grade, Certificate and Diploma level in the range of subjects offered are awarded special certificates and trophies at the annual CALSDA Prize Giving amidst much grandeur. Every effort is made to ensure that it is a memorable occasion and a rewarding experience for students, teachers, parents and the examiners, where the joy and satisfaction of a whole year’s hard work culminates and is witnessed by those present at this ceremonial and dignified event.
We held our first Prize Giving on SATURDAY 1st DECEMBER 2001 at the SRI LANKA FOUNDATION INSTITUTE. The Chief Guest for the occasion was Hon. Justice C. V. Wigneswaran, Judge of the Supreme Court of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. Seventy candidates received prizes at the ceremony.
The second Prize Giving was held in two sessions on SUNDAY 7th APRIL 2002 at the BISHOP’S COLLEGE AUDITORIUM. The Chief Guests for the Prize Givings were Dr. Neluka Silva, Head – Dept. of English, University of Colombo and Rev. Fr. Felician Perera, Rector/Principal, St. Peter’s College, Colombo 4. Four hundred candidates received prizes at the Prize Givings.
An Awards ceremony in the year 2002 was held on SUNDAY 16th JUNE at the SHALIKA HALL Colombo 5. Five hundred candidates received Honourable Mention certificates at the ceremony for having obtained the second highest mark in their respective grades. The Chief Guest for the occasion was Kalasuri Henry Jayasena.
The Prize Giving in the year 2003 was held on SUNDAY 23rd MARCH at the BISHOP’S COLLEGE AUDITORIUM. The Chief Guests for the day were Ms. N. K. Pilapitiya, Principal – Museaus College, Colombo 7, Dame Delorine Brohier – Knight of the Order of Oranje Nassau, President of the Dutch Burgher Union and Hon. Kabir Hashirn, Minister of Tertiary Education and Training. Nine hundred and twelve students received prizes at the Prize Givings.
The Awards Ceremony for the year was held at the RAMAKRISHNA HALL on SUNDAY 29th JUNE 2003. The Chief Guest was Mr. Ravindra Randeniya. Six hundred students received Honourable Mention certificates at the ceremony.
The Prize Giving in the year 2004 was held on SUNDAY 28th MARCH at the BISHOP’S COLLEGE AUDITORIUM, Ms. Maureen Seneviratne – Chairperson P.E.A.C.E (Protecting Environment and Children); Ms. Lakshmi Attygalle – Deputy Principal, Royal College and Hon. S.S. Wijeratne – Chairman – Legal Aid Foundation and Member of the Constitutional Council were invited as Chief Guests for the day. One thousand one hundred students received prizes at the Prize Givings.
The Prize Giving in the year 2005 was held on SUNDAY 10th APRIL at the BISHOP’S COLLEGE AUDITORIUM. The Chief Guests for the three sessions were Prof. Dr. A Francis P. de Zoysa, Head, Dept. of English, Acting Dean, Institute of Technological Studies, Colombo; Mrs. Mano Ramanathan J.P – Attorney-at-Law – Deputy Legal Draftsman and President Zonta Club 1 of Colombo and Ms. Shirani Welgampola, Principal M. D. Gunasena Oasis International School, Colombo. One thousand eight hundred and five students received prizes at the Prize Givings.
The distribution of prizes in the year 2006 were held on two days – SUNDAY 2nd APRIL at the BISHOP’S COLLEGE AUDITORIUM and SUNDAY 9th APRIL at ST. JOSEPH’S COLLEGE. The Chief Guests on the first day were Ms. Rosy Senanayake – Former Mrs. World and High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in Malaysia and Dr. Deepika Udagama, Head, Dept. of Law, University of Colombo. Dr. Mrs. Mareena Thalia Rellai, Mrs. S. N. Amarasekere, Principal, Middle School, Royal College, Colombo and Rev. Sr. Chandani Javasunva. Principal, Hoiy Family convent, Bambalapitiya were invited as Chief Guests on the second day. One thousand nine hundred and fourteen students received prizes for the year.
The Prize Giving in the year 2007 was held on SUNDAY 1st APRIL at ST. JOSEPH’S COLLEGE and SUNDAY 8th APRIL at the BISHOP’S COLLEGE AUDITORIUM. Ms. Gem Karunaratne, Former Principal, English Teachers’ College; Rev. Fr. Anthony Fernandopulle, Principal, St. Joseph’s College, Enderamulla and Ms. Siromi Gunesekera – Attorney – at – Law were invited as Chief Guests for the first ceremony. Dr. Pradeep Jeganathan, Senior Research Fellow. International Centre for Ethnic Studies; Ms. Indira Mawella, Head, Dept of English, University of Sri Jayewardenepura and Deshabandu Mrs. Jezima Ismail were present as Chief Guests on the second day. Two thousand four hundred students received prizes for the year.
The Prize Givings in the year 2009 were held on SUNDAY 29th March 2009 at ST. JOSEPH’S COLLEGE and SUNDAY 5th APRIL at the BISHOP’S COLLEGE AUDITORIUM. Miss Parvathi Nagasundaram, Former Head – Dept. of English,University of Sri Jayewardenepura were invited as Chief Guests with Mrs. Chitra Galappatti Wijenayake, Senior Lecturer in English, University of Sri Jayewardenepura as a Guest of Honour, Mrs. Chryshanthi Lewke, Principal, Visakha Nursery – Colombo, Mr. B. Suriarachchi, Principal, Royal Institute – Nugegoda, were invited as Chief Guests for the first ceremony. Dr. Harsha Alles, Director – Gateway Group and Mr. Palitha Fernando P.C., Additional Solicitor General, Attorney Generals Department were present as Chief Guests on the second day. Two thousand six hundred and eighty seven students received prizes for the year.
The Prize Givings in the year 2010 were held on SATURDAY 20TH MARCH at ST. JOSEPH’S COLLEGE and SUNDAY 21st MARCH at the BISHOP’S COLLEGE AUDITORIUM. Mrs. Romola Rassool, Senior Lecturer English Language Unit, University of Kelaniya and Ms. Sheryl Cooray, Wise Principal, Biship’s College, were invited as Chief Guests for the first ceremony. Mr. G.T. Bandara, Chairman, Royal Institute was present as Chief Guests on the second day. Two thousand one hundred and fifty students received prizes for the year.
The Prize Givings in the year 2011 were held on SATURDAY 26TH MARCH at ST. JOSEPH’S COLLEGE and SUNDAY 20th MARCH at the BISHOP’S COLLEGE AUDITORIUM. Mr. Suren De Silva , Attorney-at-Law, Rev. Fr. Sriyan Ranasinghe, Director and Superior, St. Vincent’s Home and Mrs. Sheila Ebert, Retired Sri Lanka Administrative Officer and Former Regional Director – Commonwealth Youth Programme for Asia, were invited as Chief Guests for the first ceremony.Ms. Shamila Gomez, Lawyer and Women’s Rights Activist, Ms. Susan Green, Programme Leader – APIIT Law School, Dr. B J C Perera, Consultant Paediatrician were present as Chief Guests on the second day. Three thousand seven hundred and fifty students received prizes for the year.
The Prize Givings in the year 2012 were held on SUNDAY 25th MARCH at ST. JOSEPH’S COLLEGE and SUNDAY 1st APRIL AT THE BISHOP’S COLLEGE AUDITORIUM. Ms. Jacqueline Lord, HR Officer, LOLC Group, Rev. Fr. Sylvester Ranasinghe, Rector – St. Joseph’s College were invited as Chief Guests for the first ceremony. Ms. Farzana Jameel, Deputy Solictor General, Attorney General’s Department was present as Chief Guests on the second day. One thousand nine hundred students received prizes for the year.
The Prize Givings in the year 2013 were held on SUNDAY 17th MARCH at ST. JOSEPH’S COLLEGE and MONDAY 25TH MARCH at the BISHOP’S COLLEGE AUDITORIUM. Ms. D.P.C.W. Karunaratne, Deputy Director (Consular Affairs) , Ministry of External Affairs and Rev. Fr. Noel Dias, Senior Lecture in Law, Arch Bishop’s House were invited as Chief Guests for the first ceremony. Mr. Suhada Gamlath, Additional Solicitor General, Attorney General’s Department was present as Chief Guests on the second day. Two thousand five hundred and fifty students received prizes for the year.
The Prize Givings in the year 2014 were held on SATURDAY 29th MARCH at ST. JOSEPH’S COLLEGE and MONDAY 29th MARCH at the BISHOP’S COLLEGE AUDITORIUM. Mr. Michael Lord, Manager – Sales, Tenders and Key Co-operate Clients, Business Machines (PVT) Ltd, Mr. Rajiv Goonetilleke, Senior State Council, Attorney General’s Department and Mr. Saliya Pieris, Attorney at Law, Chairman – CFPS Law School were invited as Chief Guests for the first ceremony. Ms. Kshanika Hirimburegama, Chairperson, University Grants Commission was present as Chief Guests on the second day. Two thousand three hundred and fifty students received prizes for the year.
The Prize Givings in the year 2015 were held on SUNDAY 22nd MARCH at ST. JOSEPH’S COLLEGE and SATURDAY 21st MARCH at the BISHOP’S COLLEGE AUDITORIUM. Mr. Anuruddha Fernando, Creative Director, Magenta (Pvt) Limited and Rev. Father Travis Grabriel, Rector, St. Jolseph’s College, Colombo 10 were invited as Chief Guests for the first ceremony. Prof. Dilani Lokkuhetty, from the Dept. of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Colombo was present as Chief Guests on the second day. One thousand seven hundred and forty students received prizes for the year.
The Prize Givings in the year 2016 were held in two sessions on SATURDAY 2nd April 2016 at ST. JOSEPH’S COLLEGE and on SUNDAY 3rd April 2016 at the BISHOP’S COLLEGE AUDITORIUM. The Chief Guests on Saturday were – Mr. Glenn Lord, Director and Chief Executive Officer of Business Machines and Board Member of the Daphne Lord School and Mr. Arjuna Obeyesekere, Deputy Solicitor General at the Attorney General’s Department. Mr. Shammil Perera – President’s Counsel was present as Chief Guest on the second day. One thousand six hundred and eighty students received prizes for the year.
The Prize Givings in the year 2017 were held in two sessions on SATURDAY 1st APRIL at ST. JOSEPH’S COLLEGE and SUNDAY 2nd APRIL at the BISHOP’S COLLEGE AUDITORIUM. Mr. Viran Corea – Attorney-at-Law and Dr. Maneesha S. Wanasinghe Pasqual, Senior Lecturer and Head of the Department of International Relations, University of Colombo, were invited as Chief Guests on Saturday and Prof. Neloufer de Mel, Senior Professor and Head of the Dept. of English, University of Colombo was present as Chief Guest on the second day. One thousand four hundred and forty six students received prizes for the year.
The Prize Givings in the year 2018 were held in two sessions on SUNDAY 22nd MARCH at ST. JOSEPH’S COLLEGE and SATURDAY 21st MARCH at the BISHOP’S COLLEGE AUDITORIUM. The Chief Guests on Sunday were Mr. Shalindra Fernando, Chief Executive Officer-Wine World (Pvt) Limited and Mrs. Saama Rajakaruna, Consultant on Gender Equality and Women’s Rights. Dr. Lalith Ananda, Senior Lecturer in Linguistics and Head-Department of English and Linguistics, University of Sri Jayewardenepura was present as Chief Guest on Saturday. One thousand eight hundred and forty two students received prizes for the year.
The Prize Givings in the year 2019 were held in two sessions on SATURDAY 5th APRIL at ST. JOSEPH’S COLLEGE and SUNDAY 6TH at the BISHOP’S COLLEGE AUDITORIUM. Mr. W. J. Jeyaraj, currently the University Librarian of the Eastern University, Sri Lanka and the Lecturer in Library & Information Science and Mr. Nirmalan Wigneswaren –Senior State Counsel Attorney General’s Department were invited as Chief Guests on Saturday and Mrs. Kema Swarnadhipathi, High Court Judge in Gampaha was present as Chief Guest on the second day. Two thousand and eighty four students received prizes for the year.
