bits and bytes from RCSLIIT

www.rotaractsliit.org

“Your life is a canvas; make sure you paint yourself a whole lot of colorful days”

Editors (2013/14)

Rtr. Ridmi Jayasena

Rtr. Hasini Pulara

micizia 2.0” was a memorable

project, which was organized by

Rtr. Pandula Paranagama with

the support of other

Rotaractors. This took place on 24th January

2014. It was a project that comes under

International Understanding conducted for

the second successful time. Amicizia 1.0

took place last year, where we invited all the

foreign students who are currently studying

at SLIIT.

Amicizia 2.0” took place in one of our

lecture halls with the presence of Dr.

Mahesha Kapurubandara, Ms. Antoinette

Hettiaratchi, Ms. Nimalika Fernando, Rtn.

Major. General Susil Chandrapala, Past

District Governor Rtn. Gehan Siribaddana

and Rtn. Sri Kandasamy. For the second

phase, we extended our audience by inviting

some AISEC volunteers along with our fellow

foreign students to join us. The members of

RCSLIIT as well as some of the foreign

students wore traditional wear that

represent the various cultures.

Even though we served them with many

traditional sweet meats, the most

excitement lay with the plain tea (black tea)

we served in coconut shells with hakuru

(jaggery).

We let the foreign students share

information about their motherlands with

the audience. The presentations included

with some interesting videos about their

countries, which were interesting enough to

grab the attention of the participants. We

had students from Nigeria, China, Russia,

Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Maldives.

As for the guest speaker, we had Rtr. Adam

Thaha of Rotaract Club of Fort, who did a

great job conducting a session to educate

those foreign individuals about Sri Lanka.

Afterwards we had an interactive session

where we them into teams with local

students and asked them to come up with a

creative dress with the resources provided.

They actually came up with some interesting

creations at the end. It was fun getting along

with each other and listening to the things

that they had to share. I am convinced that

it was a great opportunity for all of us to

renew our relationships with them.

“A

Conflict is part of daily life, and we all have to

learn to deal with it. The skill lies in how you

deal with it. Sadly, even though the word

“conflict” is in the mind and tip of most Sri

Lankan tongues most of them do not

understand the meaning of the word and how

to manage it? With great support from our

parent club (Battaramulla Rotary Club), we

were able to arrange a seminar on Conflict

Resolution, which included eminent speakers

Mr. Asanga Abayagoonasekera, Mr. Indika

Perera and Rtn. Dayani Panagoda. This was

held on 27th January 2014, with the presence

of Rtn. Major Susil Chandrapala (President,

Battaramulla Rotary Club), Rtn. Sri Kandasamy

(Youth Adviser, Battaramulla Rotary Club),

Ms. Antoinette Hettiaratchi and with the

participation of more than hundred students

who are currently studying at SLIIT.

I make this an opportunity to thank our

beloved Rotarians for placing their faith in us

and giving us the honor of hosting such an

event and all guest speakers for their valuable

time and advice. It was indeed a great and a

rare opportunity to be there and listen to

those speeches as they explained clearly what

a conflict is, how conflicts occur, and what we

should and should not do in such situations.

We were also alerted to the way each

individuals mind is programmed to respond to

situations, is different. For instance, some

individuals when angry would use foul

language while others in a similar situation

would manage their tongue effectively.

Conflict does not discriminate! It exists within

our family, relatives, community, colleagues

and, in situations of extreme violence and civil

war. Over one hundred students listened and

interacted with the speakers. They left the

seminar knowing that conflict is healthy and

enables mankind to be progressive. The youth

of SLIIT were equipped with tried and tested

methods of conflict resolution used by wise,

experienced people all over the world to

transform the conflicts they face into

opportunities.

.

We finally saw the end of the first ever project

we undertook as Rotaractors, which is Care to

Share. The next major task was to find a

school to donate those books. This was

handed over to one of the many skillful

members of the club Rtr. Shaminda. His team

(Rtr. Thushara, Rtr. Chanka, Rtr. Kavinda, Rtr.

Chathusha and Rtr. Wimarasha) and he did a

great job finding the school, doing necessary

arrangements with the school, and

conducting the event successfully. It was

indeed a pleasure seeing the members taking

responsibilities and giving it their 110%. I

make this an opportunity to congratulate

them on the job well done.

We chose Sir John Kotelawala Maha Vidyalya,

Piliyandala to donate books, as the school

library did not have sufficient number of

books for the children. This school was

founded on February 6, 1980. It was a school

having around 700 students from Grade 1 to

Grade 13. The present Principal of the school

is Mrs. W. Ramayalatha, who gave us an

enormous support to make this event a

success.

The event took place on 07th March 2014,

with the participation of around 20

Rotaractors. This was a completely new

experience for each one of us to sit in front of

a school as they were applauding and

appreciating our effort to do good to the

society. We went back to our school days

while sitting on the stage looking at those

smiling faces of the students.

I personally believe that we set those children

a good exemple as to they do not have to

have a fortune to serve the community, if you

have the desire you will always find a way.

Another event, which was successfully

completed with loads of new experiences and

knowledge. This workshop was initially

suggested to share the knowledge that one of

the members had from her experience as a

girl guide. Then she took the responsibility to

bring in resource persons to conduct the

session to provide the fellow Rotaractors with

adequate knowledge.

With her invitation, we were lucky enough to

spend even a couple of hours with the

amazing personalities Mrs. L.G. Jayaweera

who was an experienced trainer at Sri Lanka

Saukyadana Foundation and Mrs. Pushpa

Perera, the teacher in charge of girl guides at

Devi Balika Vidyalaya, Colombo 08.

The participants enjoyed throughout the

session as the speaker shared many

interesting stories form her experience and

was assigned with tasks and activities. In this

session, they made us aware of what to do

and what not to do in case of an emergency

with many possible scenarios, how to tie a

bandage, or how to treat a fracture and so

many other things. The crowd had so much

fun as well as knowledge.

The much-awaited event of all members of

the RCSLIIT finally became a reality. Rtr. Lahiru

had discussed with the management of the

hospital and set the dates for the event on

28th March, 2014. The Management of the

SuwaNetha Eye Hospital (PHSRC/PH/186) was

very supportive throughout the project.

The focus of this project was to provide the

financial support for those patients who are in

need of getting the Cataract operation done

but who do not have the financial ability. We

sponsored 10 such patients to do their

Cataract Operation with the funds we raised

by selling tickets among our families and

friends and with the kind donations from our

academic staff at SLIIT and the Rotarians of

Rotary Club of Battaramulla.

While the operations are going on, we

waited outside and did some interactive

activities to build up communication and

camaraderie among the members and to

keep them occupied till the operations

were completed. It was very effective as

there were some new faces present at

the event and the members do not have

many chances to get along with others

apart from their friends other than the

club meetings. The day ended with loads

of memories, new friendships and

experiences. Staff advisor Ms. Antoinette

Hettiaratchy and Senior Lecturer Mr.

Jagath Wickramaratne were also present,

and gladly watched the interaction among

the rotaractors.

About 40 members joined hand in hand with

us to make this event a success from the very

beginning. I take this opportunity to thank

them all and congratulate the chair on the

successful completion of the project.

“Sightaract - to change a life within our

capabilities”

All set for the big day

At the operating theater

Making every passing minute count...

All members gathered at Mc. Donald’s,

Rajagiriya. It was a Club Services project

completed with the participation of around 40

members, we had loads of fun at the party

area having mini chats over burgers.

The area was filled with so much of chitchats,

gossips, photo posing, balloons and more

importantly with laughter.

We spent around 1 hour there with so much

of things going on. The evening was been

made up of fun events like balloon dancing

and much more.

The day ended with loads of memories for

every single one of us and I think Burger out

was the perfect way to end such a great day.

With this outing, we completed such a

wonderful day.

For January Thilini Kanchana

Chathu Jayasooriya

Kavinda Bandulasena

For February Thushara Ravishanka

Chanaka Palliyaguru

Chathusha Weerakoon

For March Nimesha Guruge

Nuzheth Hashim

Wimarsha Madhubashana

I

My favorite

Color: changes from day to day... today it feels like a red day

Food: umm cannot really choose one. Anything that is sweet,

fried or roasted

Drink: cold water

Music: green day (Punk Rock)

Person: Paul P. Harris for starting this great movement

Book: the last book I read (11/23/63 by Stephan King)

Movie: Ratatouille

Place: any beach

Outfit: tee shirt and jeans with slippers

Friend: not one, the whole Rotaract family

Role Model: Mickey Mouse

Line: (really don’t have one)

To the Managing Director, SLIIT

Professor Lalith Gamage (B.Sc. Eng. Moratuwa, PhD. Br. Col.)

To all the Deans of SLIIT

o Dr. Malitha N. Wijesundara (BEng (Hons) Warwick, PhD. NUS, MIEEE)

Dean/Faculty of Computing & Senior Lecturer (HG)

o Dr. Koliya Pulasinghe (BSc. Eng (Hons) Moratuwa, PhD. Saga, MIET, MIEEE, AMIE

(SL)) Dean/Faculty of Graduate Studies & Senior Lecturer (HG)

o Dr. Mahesha Kapurubandara (BSc. Colombo, MSc Comp.Sc. AIT, PhD Australia)

Dean International & Senior Lecturer (HG)

o Dr. Theekshana Suraweera (BSc. (Hons) Sri J. ,MSc ,MBA, PhD. New Zealand)

Dean/Faculty of Business & Senior Lecturer (HG)

o Professor T. Ashok Peiris (BSc.(Hons) Moratuwa, D.Eng Japan, DIC &MSc.UK)

Dean/Faculty of Engineering & Professor

To the Rotary Club of Battaramulla for being the most supportive Parent Club of all.

o President Rtn. Major. General Susil Chandrapala

o Past District Governor Rtn. Gehan Siribaddana

o Youth Adviser Rtn. Sri Kandasamy

o Secretary Rtn. Taniya Weerasooriya

o Rtn. Channa Marambe

To the Department Heads of SLIIT

o Mr. Nuwan Kodagoda

Head/Department of Information Technology & Senior Lecturer (HG) o Dr. Samantha Thelijjagoda

Head/Department of Information Management & Senior Lecturer (HG)

o Dr. Shiromi Karunaratne

Head/Electrical & Computer Engineering, Senior Lecturer (HG)

To Lecturers-in-Charge of Rotaract Club of SLIIT for being our Inspiration, strength and

for keeping us going.

o Senior Lecturer Ms. Antoinette Hettiaratchy

o Senior Lecturer Ms. Nimalika Fernando

To Mr. Jagath Wickramarathne (Senior Lecturer- SLIIT) for his valuable time and support.

To all Rotaractors who were there for us in our need and for being our strength.

To non Rotaractors who helped us in many ways to make all our events a success.

To Family and Friends