Winners
English Medium
1st Prize – Ven.Upali Sramon – Faculty of Arts, University of Peradeniya
2nd Prize – Pathmanadam Shivashankar – Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya
3rd Prize – Sithivanayagam Kokulakumaran – Faculty of Engineering, University of Moratuwa
Sinhala Medium
1st Prize – Nazeemudeen Ziyana – Faculty of Law, University of Colombo
2nd Prize – Rangana de Silva – Faculty of Law, University of Colombo
3rd Prize – Nimeshika de Silva – Faculty of Social Science,University of Ruhuna
Tamil Medium
1st Prize – Jeyapiraba Jegatheeswaran – Department of Geography, University of Jaffna
2nd Prize – Rosany Srisanthan – Department of Geography, University of Jaffna
3rd Prize – Planiyandy Sivakumar – Department of Political Science, University of Peradeniya
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This year Transparency International Sri Lanka decided to switch their focus to one particular group – students engaging in higher education.
Students selected to higher educational institutions in Sri Lanka represent the cream of our society. It is of the utmost importance that they are aware of the reality of corruption as they are the next generation of leaders in our country. This is why TISL decided to organize an anti corruption assignment competition targeting these students.
The competition was opened to students studying in Universities and higher educational institutions recognized by Sri Lanka University Grants Commission, students from Sri Lanka Law College and Sri Lanka Institute of Advanced technical Education.
Applications were called by the students through advertisements in print and electronic media. Print ads were seen in Veerakesari, Lankadeepa and Daily Mirror while ads also aired on Sirasa FM, YES FM and Shakthi FM. TISL also distributed handbills and leaflets among the targeted student population and sent out posters to be posted in Universities.
The deadline for the applications was set to July 15th and by July 20th TISL concluded accepting applications. In total TISL received nearly 500 applications from all parts of the island out of which 453 were accepted as valid entries. This included 157 Sinhala medium applications, 254 Tamil medium applications and 41 English medium applications.
With the hopes of making the assignment competition more effective the competition was divided into three phases.
Phase I
In the first phase students whose applications were accepted as valid was invited to participate at a seminar organized by TISL. The objective of the seminar was to provide the applicants with a basic understanding of the principles of corruption and to communicate to them what was required of the assignment. Participation at the seminar was compulsory for students hoping to write the assignment. Seminars were held in Kandy, Ampara, Batticaloa, Matara, Colombo and Jaffna in the months of August, September and October. The seminars created a space for students from different educational institutions to come together and discuss issues relating corruption and to share ideas with resource personnel from TISL.
Phase II
In the second phase of the competition students that took part in the series of seminars were asked to submit a written assignment of 3000 to 2500 words in their respective medium. They were given the freedom to write the assignment on one of the following topics.
- How does corruption affect your life? What can you do to fight corruption that you face?
- Is injustice the source of corruption or is corruption the source of injustice.
- Describe a corrupt person (life-style) and how they differ from other people. What do you suggest in bringing such people to the correct path?
- Imagine that you work in an organization that acts against corruption. What would be your strategy for the organization?
- Describe how the Sri Lankan society responds to corrupt practices within itself? (Collective concern)
The applicants were asked to submit their assignments within one month from day they attended their relevant seminar.
Phase III
In the final phase of the competition shortlisted applicants were invited for an interview with the Panel of Judges to assess the authenticity of the assignment. It was only at the conclusion of this process that the final winners from all three mediums were decided.