The Sri Lankan team

Eight students represented Sri Lanka at the largest technology competition – Microsoft Imagine Cup 2008 World Final - in the world which brought together 370 finalists, 124 teams, 61 countries and US$ 240,000 in prize money.

The competition was conducted over several diverse categories, in keeping with topical global needs, which included Software Design, Embedded Development, Game Development, “Project Hoshimi” (Programming Battle), IT Challenge, Algorithm, Photography, Short Film and Interface Design, according to a Microsoft press release. The Sri Lankan finalists represented two teams, competing in the categories of Software Design and Short Film.

Team Sasrutha consisting of Sapumal Ahangama, Chethiya Abeysinghe, Supunmali Ahangama and Dasuni Kannangara, offered “Haritha Prayathna”, a project aimed at popularising and encouraging the public to reuse and recycle waste, as a measure of reducing environmental pollution while Team Genes|Pictures consisting Buddhika Perera and Malika Fernando (students from the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology), Gimantha Aponso (Tec Sri Lanka) and Salinga Kodikara (National Institute of Technical Education) was among the six finalists in their category. Sapumal Ahangama, leader of Team Sasrutha said, “As a team, we felt privileged and happy to represent our country and also the University of Moratuwa at this prestigious global event.”

It was fascinating to witness the diverse cultural backgrounds of different countries united by core technologies. We learnt about the unique ways of applying cutting edge Microsoft technologies in Software Design, in Embedded Development and in Game Development.”

“It was once in a lifetime experience,” added Buddhika Perera, leader of team Genes|Pictures, “As a world finalist in Short Film category I believe our team did a great job during the 36 hour competition. It was a new challenge to us, the hardest part being to come up with an idea and finding the resources needed to shoot our film in a foreign country.”

Imagine Cup 2009 will be held in Cairo and Alexandria, Egypt under the theme “Imagine a world where technology helps solve the toughest problems facing us today.”