Dakma

Dakma ’25, the Annual Media Day of Maliyadeva College together with the Awards Ceremony of Kunchanada ’25, was ceremonially conducted on Monday, 30th June 2025, from 8.30 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. at the prestigious U. B. Wanninayake Auditorium of Maliyadeva College. The event stood as a landmark occasion in the institutional calendar of the Maliyadeva Media Unit, symbolizing its unwavering commitment to excellence, cultural consciousness, and the advancement of meaningful school media practices at the national level. Notably, Dakma ’25 was among the very few school media events in Sri Lanka to be organized in collaboration with several leading national and academic media institutions. These included the Ministry of Mass Media, the Department of Government Information, J’apura Voice—the Media Unit of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura and the National Programme to Promote School Media Clubs. This multi-institutional collaboration significantly elevated the professional standard, credibility, and national significance of the event, further strengthening the position of the Maliyadeva Media Unit within the Sri Lankan school media landscape. The programme was further honoured by the presence of an esteemed panel of judges representing diverse fields within media and communication, who attended the event to witness its proceedings and the culmination of the competition. Their presence ensured a rigorous, transparent, and professionally guided evaluation process, adding further distinction to the awards ceremony. The occasion was graced by two eminent personalities whose presence significantly enriched the academic and professional stature of the event. The Chief Guest was Senior Professor Mr. Kamal Waleboda of the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism Unit, University of Colombo. His scholarly insights and extensive experience in the field of media and communication provided valuable intellectual depth to the occasion. The Special Invited Guest was the Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police of the North Western Province, Mr. Ajith Rohana, whose distinguished career in public service added further prestige to the event. Both dignitaries delivered thought-provoking and inspiring addresses, emphasizing the art of media, ethical responsibility, and the immense power of media in shaping public opinion, social values, and national consciousness. Their speeches served as invaluable guidance for aspiring young media practitioners across the island. The theme of Dakma ’25 was “Traditional Sri Lanka,” and this concept was consistently and creatively reflected throughout the programme. The stage design, backdrop, décor, and visual elements were thoughtfully curated to showcase Sri Lanka’s rich cultural heritage, traditional aesthetics, and indigenous artistic expressions. The carefully designed ambience enhanced the dignity of the occasion while reinforcing the cultural and philosophical foundations of the Annual Media Day. A central highlight of Dakma ’25 was the awards ceremony of Kunchanada ’25, which recognised excellence in school media at a national level. The competition attracted the participation of over 2,000 students from schools across Sri Lanka. Out of this highly competitive pool, only 260 exceptional individuals were selected as prize winners, underscoring the rigorous evaluation process and the high standards upheld by the judging panel. The Overall Championship, awarded as the prestigious Francis Warnakulasooriya Memorial Trophy, was won by Ananda College, Colombo, in recognition of their outstanding all-round performance across multiple media disciplines. Kingswood College, Kandy, secured the position of First Runners-up, while Maliyadeva Balika Vidyalaya, Kurunegala, emerged as the Second Runners-up, demonstrating remarkable dedication, creativity, and consistency. In recognition of excellence in trilingual media practice, category-based awards were also presented. The Best Sinhala Media Unit Award was won by Maliyadeva Balika Vidyalaya, Kurunegala. The Best English Media Unit Award was secured by Ananda College, Colombo, while the Best Tamil Media Unit Award was awarded to Hisbulla College, Kurunegala, highlighting the strength and inclusivity of multilingual school media culture in Sri Lanka. In addition to the principal awards, several special memorial challenge shields were presented in honour of distinguished individuals whose contributions have left a lasting impact on education and media. The Venerable Nakaththē Ananda Thero Memorial Challenge Shield was awarded to Nadeera Mendis of St. Anne’s College, Kurunegala. The T. B. Madawala Memorial Challenge Shield was won by Yashen Walisundara of Ranabima Royal College, Kandy. The S. M. J. B. Seneviratne Memorial Challenge Shield was awarded to Mahamaya Girls’ College, Kandy, in recognition of excellence and distinguished achievement. The successful organization of Dakma ’25 stands as a testament to the professionalism, discipline, and collective effort of the members of the Maliyadeva Media Unit. The seamless coordination of the Annual Media Day alongside the awards ceremony of Kunchanada ’25 within a single programme further demonstrated the Unit’s strong organizational capacity and its commitment to fostering a meaningful, ethical, and culturally grounded media culture among school students. Overall, Dakma ’25 not only celebrated achievement but also reaffirmed the vision of the Maliyadeva Media Unit to nurture responsible young media practitioners, preserve cultural values, and contribute positively to the continuous evolution of Sri Lankan school media. The event will remain a memorable and distinguished chapter in the enduring legacy of the Maliyadeva Media Unit.