The true wealth of a society lies not in its buildings or its economy, but in its heritage, culture, arts, and heroic history. In today’s fast-paced world, dominated by technology and artificial intelligence, if our roots fade, we risk losing our identity even as we advance. Education nurtures human knowledge, but a complete life is not built by education alone, it requires character combined with knowledge, discipline combined with skill, and leadership combined with education, for only then does a complete human being emerge. It is precisely to protect the younger generation from today’s social aberrations that we must create for them a strong alternative path through the arts and sports, said Northern Province Hon. Governor N. Vethanayahan.
The Hon. Governor made these remarks while addressing an event honouring athletes, jointly organized by the Sivaleeman Silambam Self-Defence Arts Academy and the Babu Ishan Ryu Karate School, held today – on Sunday (02 August 2026), at the Mullaitivu Maritimepattu pradeshiya sabha Ground.
The guests attending the event were welcomed with a grand procession showcasing the students’ traditional martial arts. In particular, the students performed a range of martial arts including Silambam, Nenjaakku, Velkambu, and Surulvaal (scroll sword), extending a special welcome to the guests. This was followed by stage performances featuring sword-and-shield feats, karate, and a variety of thrilling displays of heroism. In a first in Sri Lankan history, an event was held on these grounds where 150 student-athletes together performed a torch-twirling display.
At the event, 35 students who had achieved victories in various regional competitions held in India and southern parts of Sri Lanka were honoured by the guests.
Continuing his address, the Governor pointed out that the traditional martial arts, self-defence disciplines, and sports demonstrated here today are not mere entertainment events, but living documents of our history and symbols of our philosophy of life. He noted that these arts, once taught within our own homes as schools and within our families as universities, have now come to require dedicated academies for their study. He further stated that such traditional martial arts and physical exercises must be revived as pathways to a healthy life, self and noted that young women learning self-defence arts cultivates -confidence and self-discipline.
In his address, the Governor highly commended the dedication of Chief Instructor Susainathar Yasotharan (Babu Master), who recently received the 7th Degree Black Belt and the “Silambam Chemmal” award, for prioritising the teaching of “discipline” alongside the arts to students.
Noting that talent without discipline does not retain its value over time, he further assured that the Department of Sports would look favourably into incorporating such traditional sports into provincial-level sporting competitions in the future.
Concluding his address, the Governor offered his heartfelt wishes, stating: “A tree that does not forget its roots is the one that withstands the storms; a society that does not forget its heritage is the one that endures across generations. This event today must stand as an important milestone in the journey of building such an enduring society.”
A special feature of the event was the participation of Ilankumaran, President of the World Union of Martial Arts Academies, who travelled specially from London for the occasion. Joining the Governor as another chief guest was Hon. Upali Samarasinghe, Deputy Minister of Cooperative Development. Also present were Parliamentarian Hon. T. Ravikaran, Mullaitivu District Secretary A. Umamaheswaran, Chairman of the Maritimepattu Pradeshiya Sabha Hon. Immaculata Pushpanandan, Director of Sports for the Northern Province P. Mukunthan, and several others.
