Students' invented washing machines, battery-operated car at Inventors Exhibition

Story and pictures by Sinniah Gurunathan,
Trincomalee correspondent

Irin Shobiga and her washing machine

Washing machines and a battery-operated car were among the exhibits at the district Inventions Exhibition in Trincomalee recently organised by the Sri Lanka Inventors Commission of the Ministry of Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion in collaboration with the Provincial Ministry of Education held a two-day District Inventions Exhibition.

Inventions of students of schools in the districts of Trincomalee and Ampara were on show at the 2-day event where the best were awarded cash prizes and certificates.

Female student, Irin Shobiga of Thirukovil Madhya Maha Vidiyalayam was selected first in the senior section in the Ampara district for her invention - a washing machine. Two male students of the same school, N.Lovinath and N.Sanjeevanath who produced a battery-operated car also won an award. Both are brothers and their father is a peon working in Thirukovil post office. Two female students, J.Nilumina and R. Subantha of Trincomalee St.Mary's College won the first place in the junior section in the Trincomalee district for the metal catcher.

Dr.K.Kapila, C.K.Perera, Commissioner of the Sri Lanka Inventors Commission, who was the chief guest, appealed to young inventors to work on ocean thermal energy conservation projects. The sea around Koneswaram temple could be used for this project, he said reading out a feasibility report on this project, which was submitted by experts during the J.R Jayawardene regime.

He said during his 48-hour stay in Trincomalee he found lot of natural resources in the area that could be used for development of the nation. Solar energy could also be used for power projects.