ComBank continues support for young talent with ‘Arunalu Siththam 2026’
The Commercial Bank of Ceylon has opened a new season of creativity with the launch of ‘Arunalu Siththam 2026,’ inviting children to translate imagination into art in one of Sri Lanka’s most inclusive and far-reaching competitions for young talent.
With entries closing September 15 2026, this much-loved island-wide and international competition calls on children aged 4 to 16, both in Sri Lanka and overseas, to express themselves through art for a chance to win a share of over Rs 4.8 million in cash prizes and certificates.
Conducted entirely online, Arunalu Siththam 2026 offers a seamless platform for participation. Children can submit their artwork by uploading a scanned image to the dedicated website, www.arunalusiththam.lk along with the required details, before the closing date.
This year’s competition features themes designed to spark creativity and reflection across age groups. Children aged 4 to 7 are free to draw a subject of their choice, while those aged 8 to 10 will explore the theme of ‘Gardening.’ Participants aged 11 to 13 are invited to interpret ‘Child Protection,’ and the oldest category, aged 14 to 16, will engage with the theme ‘Displaced.’
Entries will be evaluated by an experienced panel of judges, with winners in Sri Lanka first selected at the provincial level before advancing to compete nationally. The competition continues to uphold its reputation for recognising artistic merit and originality while encouraging children to think deeply and express themselves meaningfully.
As in previous years, the rewards are substantial. National-level winners in the main age categories will receive cash prizes, for first, second and third places respectively. At provincial level the top three winners across the nine provinces will also receive cash prizes.In these categories, merit certificates will also be presented to those placing fourth to tenth.
For the pre-school category, the top three national winners and the top three provincial winners will be awarded cash prizes. Together, these awards celebrate outstanding effort at every stage of development, shining a spotlight on emerging talent and inspiring the next generation of achievers to reach even greater heights.
The competition also recognises the role of schools in nurturing creativity. The school in each district that submits the highest number of entries will receive a cash prize, reinforcing the importance of institutional support in developing artistic potential. Adding an international dimension, Sri Lankan children living overseas can participate, with one winner from each age category receiving a cash prize for the best entry from abroad.
Source: Daily News