The Certificate Awarding Ceremony of the “DELT Speech Star 2021” organized by the Department of English Language Teaching (DELT), Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (FHSS) of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura was held under the patronage of the Vice Chancellor of the University, Senior Professor Sudantha Liyanage, Dean, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Professor Shirantha Heenkenda and the Head of the DELT, Mr. Sarath Ananda on 19th November 2021. The academic staff members of the DELT also graced the occasion.
DELT Speech Star 2021 is an oratorical competition organized by the DELT aiming at developing public speaking skills (English) of the first-year students of the FHSS. During the first and the second semesters of the academic year 2019/2020, the DELT conducted all the lectures by using online platforms due to COVID-19 crisis-based restrictions, and it was noticed by most of the lecturers that the speaking skills of the students could be developed by providing more and more online opportunities to use English. Prepared speeches and impromptu speeches were often used in order to develop the public speaking skills of students. Further, it was also felt that encouragements on public speaking skill would motivate the students to communicate effectively. As a result, the department agreed unanimously to conduct an oratorical competition by the name “DELT Speech Star 2021.”
This competition had three rounds: Round one- Class Level Competition; at this level, the students of all 18 classes were given an opportunity to participate in the competition and the best three speakers from each class were selected for the round two. At this point, the selected speakers were further trained in developing the delivery of impromptu and prepared speeches by Mr. Moditha Sendanayake, a distinguished Toastmaster and with the help of career advisor, Mr. Sameera Jayewardena. Finally, in round three, the best three speakers were selected as the winners. In addition to these winners, the students of the Department of English and Linguistics competed separately and the best three speakers from this category were also selected. Prof. Rohana Basil Marasinhe, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Prof. Hilary Silva, Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce, Prof. Theshini, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Dr. Palaitha Disanayake of the Gampaha Wickrmaarchchi University of Indigenous Medicines and Dr. Nayana Wijesundara, the librarian of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura were the judges of the final round.