I've seen this before - a bank using its resources to nurture young talent and give back to the community. The Commercial Bank of Ceylon has launched the Arunalu Siththam 2026 competition, inviting children aged 4 to 16 to express themselves through art for a chance to win cash prizes and certificates.
The competition is open to children in Sri Lanka and overseas, and features themes designed to spark creativity and reflection across age groups. Children can submit their artwork online, and entries will be evaluated by an experienced panel of judges. The rewards are substantial, with national-level winners receiving cash prizes of up to Rs 100,000.
The Competition Details
The competition is designed to be inclusive and accessible, with a fully digital platform that allows children to submit their artwork from anywhere in the world. The bank has also recognized the role of schools in nurturing creativity, with the school in each district that submits the highest number of entries receiving a cash prize of Rs 50,000.
- Children aged 4 to 7 can draw a subject of their choice
- Children aged 8 to 10 will explore the theme of 'Gardening'
- Children aged 11 to 13 will interpret 'Child Protection'
- Children aged 14 to 16 will engage with the theme 'Displaced'
The competition has grown into one of the country's most inclusive and widely anticipated children's competitions, attracting over 23,000 entries last year alone. The initiative reflects the bank's ongoing commitment to nurturing the creativity, confidence, and future potential of the next generation through its flagship children's savings product, Arunalu.
The Web3 Angle
What many newcomers don't realize is that the intersection of art, technology, and finance is a rapidly growing field. The use of blockchain technology and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) is becoming increasingly popular in the art world, allowing artists to create and sell unique digital assets. As the Arunalu Siththam competition continues to grow and evolve, it will be interesting to see how it incorporates these new technologies and trends.
For example, the competition could consider using blockchain-based platforms to verify the authenticity and ownership of the artwork submitted. This could help to prevent copyright infringement and ensure that the artists receive fair compensation for their work. Additionally, the competition could explore the use of NFTs to create unique digital assets that can be bought, sold, and traded like traditional art.
Our Take
As someone who has been in the finance and technology industry for a long time, I'm excited to see how the Arunalu Siththam competition will continue to evolve and incorporate new technologies and trends. The intersection of art, technology, and finance is a rapidly growing field, and it will be interesting to see how this competition contributes to that growth.
Back in 2017, I saw the potential for blockchain technology to disrupt the art world, and now we're seeing it happen. The use of NFTs and blockchain-based platforms is becoming increasingly popular, and it's only a matter of time before we see more competitions like Arunalu Siththam incorporating these technologies.
