Amazing Trip to Helakanda Primary Scool in Siripa Hime
Two weeks ago I was able to joining with my father and mother along with the Kodukarayo organization of Classic Scooter Riders Association Sri Lanka.
Kodukarayo is a subsidiary organization established by the riders of the Classic Scooters. This organization commence it work and service from August 1, 2017 According to its leader Aruna Jayasekara.
There were 7 founder members in that organization covering ten areas of the socio and economic and automobile sectors for the benefit of scooter and motor cycle riders.
My father is a well known Automobile technician and specialized scooter and Motor bicycles repairs and modifications for races and other things etc.
He is conducting regular automobile clinic for the sake of motor riders and fans.
The place known as LRS Hospital and it is situated at 188/4,FirstLane Veda Mawatha, Thunbowila, Piliyandala and it was very popular among the riders all over the Sri Lanka. They keep contact through the face book account in lrshospital.
The newly formed Kodukarayo organization is very particular about the educational and research matters
The committee comprises 7 members and they are covering 10 specialized areas.
They are 01.History and archeology,02. Tertiary Education, 03.Agriculture and food production 04. Environment Protection 05. Religious and mind concentration06.Improving the reading and writing ability, of the people 07.Conducting camps on different sports ,Hiking, Recreation and physical fitness 08. Travelling home and abroad to cover the places of tourist interests. 10. Helping needy and adults as special social services.
They are bound to do at least one service from each section for a month according to its leader Aruna Jayasekara.
He is a technician attached to the Motive Power Department of the Sri Lanka Railway Department (SLR) Living in Moraenda, Product of Herman Minor German School in Piliyandala, Other founder members are Charith Gunasekara is a banking Executive,Product of Matara Rahula College, attached to the Commercial Bank ,Kohuwala Branch, Vimukthi Rajapaksa From Kesbewa,Fasion Designer by profession, Hasala Darshana is from Maharachchimulla Bentara, A professional Photographer,Sithum rangana Jayasinghe from Mora Enda Kesbewa SLR Technician at Motive Power Engineering Shed Maradana, P.R.Viduranga Kumara from Nittambuwa is also a a SLR Product.
All are at the range of 20 to 30 years of age. All of them are mainly involved in the games of hiking, scooter riding ,doing adventure trips ,swimming and engaged in athletics etc,
At their last month meeting they have decided to go ahead with a project to help a poor rural school in a very remote area other than Western Province.
Finally they decide to go to Sabaragamuwa Province. After discussion with the Educational authorities of the said province, they have decided to help a small primary school in Rathnapura district withnumerous needy children and parents etc.
Selected school is R/ Helakanda Primary Scool.This school is situated in the administrative area of Gileemale Pradesheeya Sabhawa.
Gileemale history goes to pre historic age. It has a long history since during the Great King Ravana’s period, I heard from my parents.
It is situated in the Kudawa Grama Nildhari wasama of Rathnapura Divisional Secretary Division. This village is 33 kilo metres away from the Rathnapura City.
To go to this village you have to travel through Rathnapura Badulla Main Trunk road and after passing about three kilo metres , have to turn to left from Malwala junction and to go on Palabaddala- Siripagama main Road.
When we travel about 08 kilometers on this way we had to turn from Galaboda junction to right and travel another 20 Km on the Gileemale Road . Then we took Wewelwatta road and travelled about 05 km from Wewelwatte junction.to reach the Helakanda villege.
When we reach there the whole area is covered with the heavy mist and it was vanished within an hour. The place was so cold.
When I ask from my mother why we get so cold at this time. She said now we are in the Siripada Forest Range and we are so close to the Sri Pada mountain and Samanala Gira.
According to the Sri Lankan history the Lord Thathagatha Gauthama Buddhas has visited to this Samanola Gira Rock on the invitation of God Sri Sumana Saman on his first visit to Sri Lanka from Jambudveepa (India) in BC one the sasana history says.
After arrival of European invaders to this country foreigners named this sacred rock mountain as Adams peak.
According to the Physical Map of Sri Lanka, the height of this sacred mountain Samanola gira is 7828 feet. There are four main rivers starting and flowing from this mountain, they are River Mahaveli, Kelani,Walawe and Kalu gangas .
The Kalu Ganga is flowing through Helakanda villege. It is so close to the Hela Kanda Primary School where we went help the children to distribute some Education materials as well as other valuble things to the children as well as teachers and parents.
This school location is very pleasant. It has beautiful surroundings with a thick jungle towards Sri Pada mountain, lushly tea plantations, Kaluganga form the northern side and many other water ways from the surrounding high lands.
Then you get paddy fields from the eastern side vegetable, beetle, Kitul and Aricanat plantations are grown all over the area.
It is amazing, everywhere blooming flowers with different colour,area is so green, cold calm and quiet place. Lots od birds and other creaturs making noise with kich bichi sounds.
We stay night at the Helakanda Primary school. It has one large building for having space for five classes and an office room.
School has a separate house to use as Principals’ quarters, I heard.That night ,we stayed at this house. Our supper was brought by the parents of the school for us. It was prepared with native rice and vegetables and very tasty we had a bellyful diet thanks to the villagers.
Following morning we had to face for a big mission.
Eight Classic scooters and One Volkswagen namely Beetle with lots of presents to donate to this school children, teachers and the villagers.
In this school population is very poor. It is amounting to 20 children.
The day that we were in the Helakanda Primary School was day prior to Vacation commenced.
That only 18 students came to school,There were for teachers including the Principal.
She is Mrs K.V.G.Kamani Malkanthi,Primary Trained teacher. According to the principal her teaching experience is 25 years and she had continued exact 21 years in this school uninterruptedly.
She is doing a good job, every one respects her, and she is popular among the children, staff, parents and the villagers.
To come to her school, she traveled every working day from her residence of Batugedara Rathnapura and to Helakanda . It is about 33 kilo metres away from Rathnapura , every morning and evening. She sacrifices whole of her life on this schooland benefit of this school and its children etc. Her other staff members are Mr. H.A.P.Perera of Gallella,Mrs.O.K.Suranganee of Helakandaand Mrs Sanjeewanee of Gurubewila. All of them are primary trained teachers. There doing maximum for the benefit of the school children and they are doing additional classes for the grade 05 examination. Last year one student had got 180 marks from the grade five examinations beating all neighboring schools in the education circuit.
The Kodukarayo were able to distribute education materials, clothing’s, food, medicinal products among the hildren,teachers as well as parents. Children were able to present a concert with some dancing items in front of us. It was so nice, enthusiast, very attractive and quite interesting. We were so happy on them.
The fourth Annual Research Symposium (ARS - 2017) on Engineering will take place at the Faculty of Engineering, University of Ruhuna in Hapugala, Galle on January 05, 2017. The symposium is organised as a national level event, showcasing inhouse research outcomes of the Faculty of Engineering while providing a unique opportunity for the researchers in the field of engineering from institutions around the country.
The theme of this year’s event is ‘’Research for Achieving Excellence in Engineering’’. In addition to authors from various engineering organisations, more than 50 papers authored by the academics, postgraduate and final year undergraduate students of the Ruhuna Faculty of Engineering are to be presented at this conference. These papers will cover wide disciplinary areas of engineering and technology covering sub-disciplines of civil and environmental engineering, electrical and information engineering and mechanical and manufacturing engineering. The topics to be discussed include but not limited to the latest advancements in environmental engineering, concrete technology, food and bio-process technology, industrial automation, electronic and power engineering and renewable energy.
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ruhuna Senior Prof. Gamini Senanayake will be the Chief Guest of the Symposium. The Deputy Vice Chancellor Dr. Nayana Alagiyawanna and the Dean of the faculty Dr. Chandana Perera will be participating the inauguration of ARS – 2017. The keynote speech will be delivered by Prof. Sunanda Degamboda at the Department of Industrial Management, Faculty of Science at University of Kelaniya. By releasing a message to the symposium proceedings Prof. Gamini Senanayake, says that ‘’As one of the Sri Lanka’s aspiring public universities, University of Ruhuna’s main challenge is to remain competitive and relevant by offering high quality academic programmes and research activities. New knowledge and findings cannot be generated without research and development (R&D). Therefore, University of Ruhuna has taken many steps to provide a conducive environment for academics to engage in high quality research’’.
Further, he noted that ‘’ARS provides a good opportunity for our academics to present their new discoveries and translate them into products and services for the marketplace. Translation of research findings done in a university laboratory into a practical application is only made possible by linking academics with industries in a forum like this’’
According to the statement of Dr. A.M.N. Alagiyawanna, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, ‘’Each faculty of the university has stepped up its research activities significantly during last three to four years, especially with the availability of funds through the university. Annual Research Symposium of the Faculty of Engineering would continue to foster research in engineering and hence encourage innovative and sustainable solutions to relevant problems especially in Sri Lanka.’’.
Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Dr. Chandana Perera said ‘’I am very happy to state that there will be research presentations from other leading universities of the country as well. This will allow the dissemination of new knowledge across the institutions in the country. In addition to the faculty staff and students, we hope that many participants from the industry will attend and get benefit from this Symposium. I strongly believe that this annual event of our Faculty will serve as a platform and a catalyst to promote collaborative research between the industry and academia’’.
Mrs Mihirini Wagaarachchi of the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies will serve as the Symposium chair with the support from the committee members Dr. Indika Perera of Department of Mechanical and Manufacuring, Dr. Vidura Vithana of Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Ms. Suboda Ireshika of Department of Electrical and Information Engineering . The details of the event and the proceedings will be available from the website
http://www.eng.ruh.ac.lk/Faculty/ ARS2017/index.html