M.L. Devli Shenaya, a Grade 1 student at No.1 Primary School in Piliyandala, secured third place in the Under 6 girls division at the ‘Battle of Mind Colombo Division’ chess tournament. The event, held at Ananda Vidyalaya in Kottawa, served as a qualifier for the ‘Battle of Mind All Island’ tournament. Under the guidance of her coach, Dhanika Sri Kalhara, Devli has triumphed in various competitions.

Recently, Devli joined The Sunday Morning Little Stars for a chat, where she shared some exciting moments. 

Below are excerpts from the interview:

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

My name is Devli Shenaya Pathirana. I live in Piliyandala with my mom, dad, elder brother, and my uncle. I’m 5 years old, but I’ll be 6 soon. I go to No. 1 Primary School in Piliyandala, and I’m in Grade 1. At school, I have lots of friends. My dad is Ashan Pathirana and he’s an Airforce officer. My mom, Sithara Pathirana, stays at home and takes care of us. My elder brother’s name is Adhithya Thejan Pathirana.

What do you enjoy doing the most in school?

I love dancing. It’s so much fun to move around and dance with my friends. I also really like writing letters. I practise writing them a lot at home. I’m learning to read too. Reading is super cool. I enjoy reading storybooks and even my elder brother’s schoolbooks. He’s in Grade 2, so his books are big.

I have two teachers in my class. They’re really nice and they help me a lot, especially when we have tournaments to participate in.

How long have you been playing chess?

I’ve been playing chess for five months now. My elder brother taught me how to play chess first. Then I started going to the same class he goes to. He’s really good at chess too. I love playing chess a lot. My chess coach is Dhanika. He teaches me all the cool moves.

Do you play any other sports?

I do karate with my elder brother. Our dad is our coach and he trains both of us. We practise together and learn karate moves. It’s really fun. I want to learn how to swim too. 

How did you feel when you won the tournaments?

When I won the ‘Battle of Mind Colombo Division 2024,’ I was the Second Runner-up in the Under 6 category. And in the ‘Future Mind Chess Championship 2024,’ I got fourth place in the Under 8 category. I felt very, very happy. I already have lots of medals and certificates, but my dad and mom said I can win more. I really like winning competitions.

What would you like to do in the future?

I want to be an air hostess. Then I can travel all around the world and always be on planes. It sounds super exciting. I also want to become a chess champion with local and international wins. 

What do you like to do for fun?

For fun, I play chess with my brother. We have a lot of fun playing together. I also enjoy riding my bike around the neighbourhood. I love dancing and singing! Even though I don’t go to any classes, I can dance really well.  

What’s your favourite story?

My favourite story is ‘Black Beauty.’ I love it because it’s all about horses, and I love horses.

Do you have any pets?

Yes, I have a very beautiful parrot named Chooty. He’s amazing because he can talk too. We sing together and he loves playing peekaboo. Chooty is my best friend.

Is there anyone you like to thank?

There are a lot of people I want to thank. First, I want to thank my principal and my teachers at school for teaching me so many things. Then, I want to thank my chess coach for helping me become better at chess. 

Of course, I want to thank my mom and dad for taking care of me and supporting me in everything I do. I also want to thank my elder brother for being such a great friend and always playing with me.