There I was at S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia, with a bunch of science students jotting down notes as they spoke about cars, low bed trucks, rail tracks, flight stimulators, gas turbines and air craft under carriages. Do you know what they are? Want to see them? Well, they will all be at TRALE 09.
TRALE stands for Thomian Rail, Air and Logistics Exhibition. It’s not a motor-show and it’s also not just about entertainment. Instead, it’s more to do with the educational aspect of transportation.
Organized by the Aeronautical Society, Automobile Club and the Model Railroad Club of S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia, this is a rather unique event – as the boys say – it’s not something done at school level before.
“Students will be involved, but we’ve also invited other authorities, institutions, companies as well as the Air Force to participate in the event,” says Eshan De Alwis, president of the Aeronautical club which was restarted this year after having been originally formed in the 1960s.
Among the exhibits will be about 10 to 15 cars from Vintage Car Owners’ Club, several 4x4 trucks and jeeps, displays by Toyota and a flat low bed truck by Logiventures Pvt. Ltd. There will also be air crafts, helicopters, gas turbine engines, an air craft under carriage as well as rail tracks and train layouts. Models of how transport was developed over the years will also be on display.
In addition, the German Tech Mechanical Training Institute, the transport department of the University of Moratuwa, the Civil Aviation Authority, Sri Lanka model Railroad club as well as the National Transport Commission and the Air Force will have stalls. A few school clubs will also be invited to have their own stalls.
College students will also be given the opportunity to display their talents at the exhibition. “Another objective is to encourage students to participate. There are many who have the ability to design. So there will be an essay and drawing competition, where students can put down their thoughts and the entries of winners will be on display at the exhibition,” says Eshan.
A workshop for students will be held prior to the event on February 19 at the College. The workshop will address different aspects and issues relating to transportation. Presentations will be held by professionals in related fields and participants – school children interested in these fields – will get a chance to share their knowledge and experiences.
The boys wish to extend their thanks to Mr. Umega Seneviratne, Mr. Milinda Hettiarachchi, Mr. Nihal de Abrew, Capt. Menaka Fernando and Gihan de Silva as well as to all their teachers and everyone else who helped them out.
TRALE 09 will be open to the public from 3pm on February 20 and 9am on February 21 and will be held at S. Thomas’ College. The exhibition will go on till 9pm on both days.
The main sponsor for the event is Colombo International Nautical and Engineering College (CINEC) Maritime Campus. The official transport courier is Logiventures (Pvt) Ltd, while the official event material sponsor is Red Bull. The official electronic media partner is Capital Majaraja (Pvt) Ltd, while The Daily Mirror and The Sunday Times are the official print media partners for the event.
If any one is willing to donate or wish to have a stall, contact Eshan on 0774801477. |
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