Reviewed by T. Humrushan The Astronomical Society of Trinity College distinguished themselves by securing a commendable second place in the prestigious Hypnotic Elixir ’23, Inter-School Astronomy Competition, which was hosted by St. Sylvester’s College,Kandy. Ten teams from across the region competed fiercely in the preliminary online selection phase, which was held in September, to advance to the semifinals for this year’s Hypnotic Elixir, held on October 6, 2023. On the evening of October 6th, precisely at 6:30 PM, the Hypnotic Elixir ’23 competition commenced with two captivating astronomical lectures. After dinner, Trinitians were fully immersed in their final preparations. By 10.30 pm, it was time for the Quiz Team to shine. The team consisted of: Concurrently, two adept astronomers from Trinity, T. Kabisith and M. H. Hamzah, engaged in a workshop session, delving deeper into the engineering world of astronomy. The Workshop Team from Trinity shone during this session, showcasing innovative expertise in constructing rocket models and grasping the fundamental principles of rocketry. Their skills left an indelible mark on Team Trinity. Following the conclusion of the semifinals and the engaging workshop session, the organizers sought to assess the dramatic abilities of these budding astronomers.Centered around an intriguing theme, “What If Backbenchers Went to the Moon ?” Team TCK showcased their remarkable skills, leaving a lasting impression on the audience. As anticipation mounted, everyone awaited the final results to discover which two teams would compete in the championship round. When the host announced that the final showdown would feature Trinity College Kandy and Nalanda College Colombo, cheers erupted from the excited crowd. Despite an intense battle spanning three challenging rounds, Trinity College, lost in the final round. While securing second place, the ASTCK has undeniably proven their limitless potential, mirroring the boundless universe. This stimulating victory inspires future generations of Trinity astronomers, igniting their desire to explore the cosmos.
Nilesh Siriwardane (web content team) Founded in 2008, by the TIC, Mrs. Nalinikrishna Udayakumaran, The WildLife Club is a prominent and popular club among middle school scholars. For 14 years, this club has been running under the guidance of Nalini teacher but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the club became dormant. As activities kick started at the the beginning of 2023, hope and enthusiasm thrived among a new generation of animal enthusiasts. The club field trip was a highly anticipated tour, and finally, the 19th of December dawned, by 5.30 a.m., we started our journey to Wilpattu National Park. We were accompanied by Mrs Nalini Udayakumaran, Mrs Shanaz, Naufer, and Mr Upali. Our first stop was the Pulleiyar Kovilin Kandy, and the committee along with their teacher, with an offering, sought protection from the deities for the trip to go smoothly and to have a safe journey. After boarding the bus, we travelled towards our next stop: Munneshwaram Kovil. Once more, some members got off to pray and seek blessings. Munneshwaram Kovil, built during the Chola era, is one of the oldest religious monuments of the Hindus and I think it was a good experience to see this place. Our 3rd destination was the Norochcholai power plant. We learnt how the plant operated and about its impact on the distribution of electricity within Sri Lanka. It was truly a mind-blowing sight, and everyone was inspired by the tireless efforts of its employees who work through life-threatening situations, just so the people of this country don’t have to suffer. At around 4.30 pm, we arrived at the Wildlife bungalow, which was a 2 storeyed building overlooking a ‘villu’. The students got an opportunity to watch animals in the swamp; inhabited by crocodiles, visited by grazing deer and countless peacocks. It was a very rare opportunity and every one of us felt grateful for amazing nature. Our activities started by 4.30 a.m the next day and continued until 6.30 a.m. everyone was dressed and having breakfast. As promised, the safari jeeps came at 7.00, and we commenced the most awaited part of the journey. As we travelled through dense jungle, the students got a once in a lifetime opportunity to see more than 2 leopards. They spotted deer, buffalo, crocodiles, endemic birds and reptiles. As the safari came to an end at 12.00 afternoon, we had our lunch next to the museum and departed by 1.00 pm. On our way home, the students sang songs and had great fun. As much as this field trip was educational, it was an unforgettable tour that would stay with us for the rest of our lives. This trip was a reflection of how hard the committee works to organise a tour of this nature. This year being Nalini teacher’s last year at school, we felt gratitude for all the years of commitment she’d put through to teach us how important nature is. With all our hearts we wish Nalini teacher who will never be forgotten, a happy and peaceful retirement.
Reviewed by Chaniru Senhas (web content team) As part of the Arts for Life Initiative, Trinity College Kandy recently held its maiden event, the “Symphony of Colours,” which was organised by the Arts for Life Aesthetic Forum. This occasion was a major step towards encouraging student innovation and artistic expression. Giving students a platform to use art to communicate their abilities and feelings was the initiative’s main goal. The project, under the leadership of Mr Saman Rathnayake, open to both Middle and Upper School students, was an initiative to establish a setting that was supportive of artistic development and inquiry. Under Mr. Rathnakaye’s supervision, students engaged in canvas paintings, with an emphasis on hands-on involvement. Notably, the students crafted the canvases themselves, showcasing a commitment to the process from inception to execution. The final pieces of art, which cover a wide range of genres and mediums, will soon have a permanent place on the school grounds. This choice guarantees an enduring visual portrayal of the wide range of artistic abilities among Trinitians. A special thank you goes to the Director of Arts For Life Aesthetic Forum, Mr. Kanishka Samarasundara, for his invaluable assistance in making this creative project a reality. The cultural scene of Trinity College Kandy has been positively impacted by his dedication to incorporating art into the school curriculum. “Symphony of Colours” was an impressive display of artistic ability. The occasion offered a venue for artistic expression, but it also emphasised how critical it is to build an art-loving, enthusiastic school community. The triumph of this first endeavour paves the way for more artistic development and exploration among young Trinitians.
Reviewed by- Thusath Dissanayake (Web Content Team) Gavellier Rehan Anandakumar finished the year off with an incredible run clinching three podium finishes back-to-back to back. To sum up his action-packed year, the streak began with his two-2nd runner up places in both Omniferious hosted by the Colombo Gavel Club and Eloquentia hosted by the DOWELS Gavel Club. Despite being his debut year of taking the stage he was able to out-speak the more seasoned competitors. Gavelier Rehan managed to keep his squeaky-clean record intact by his banger of a closing act in Minerva hosted by the Mueseus Gavel Club in late September. A Bonafide treat to bear witness to, his prowess in language turned heads and won the crowd over. A debutant turned little master; the Gavel Club had a chat with Gavellier Rehan to get his take on his stupendous performance. “The year has been exciting to say the least, to express my thoughts in simple terms I owe it to hard work, and I’d like to say the hours put in paid off. I would not be here had it not been for my coaches and peers who guided and encouraged me every step of the way.” The Gavel Club congratulates Gavellier Rehan Anandakumar for his impressive feat in hoisting the Trinity Gavel flag high. Watch the winning speech
Upholding decades of traditions, The student Christian Movements of Trinity College Kandy, and Ladies’ College Colombo collaborated in a joint venture of ‘Giving Love and Giving Thanks’ – Season of Giving’ to help the needy. Financial and in-kind-contributions were garnered from benevolent students during the 4th-24th November 2023. These collections were gifted to St Margaret’s convent, the retired Methodists priests of Colombo 6, and for four families in Wellawatta. In addition, stationery items, toys and exceptional benefactions were gifted to Mother Teresa Children’s home in Moratuwa, and St John’s convent. These deeds of kindness were a great opportunity for students to link, exchange thoughts, and share the joy of Christmas with children and elders alike. The interaction between students and recipients fostered a sense of unity and compassion. The spirit of Christ’s joy was palpable as everyone came together to spread love and goodwill. It was a heartening display of solidarity and generosity that brought warmth to both the givers and the receivers. S.D Alexander Web coordinator – TCK SCM
Reviewed by Chaniru Senhas (Web Content Team) On November 22 and 26, 2023, the devoted members of the Interact Club orchestrated a transformative wave of altruism at Trinity College. On the 22nd, students, teachers, and support staff actively participated in the Blood screening program, prior to the medical checkups. The students’ methodical and well-coordinated collection of blood samples from instructors and support personnel demonstrated Trinity College’s shared commitment to health and wellbeing. Under the direction of Principal Rev. Fr. Araliya Jayasundara OSB and teacher-in-charge Mrs. Agra Rathnayake, the event was thoughtfully executed, demonstrating the Interact Club’s commitment to the college’s welfare. Subsequently, on November 26th, the Medical Camp—a joint endeavour by the Trinity Doctors’ Association and the Interact Club—took place. Expanding on the previous screening that was only available to college employees, the Medical Camp provided a wide range of medical services with the help of fifty additional staff members and thirty-five highly qualified medical professionals. This initiative demonstrated a holistic approach to well-being, in line with the College’s ethos. It covered a wide range of medical fields, that included medicine, paediatrics, obstetrics, dentistry, orthopaedics, psychiatry, nutrition, surgery, cardiology, respiratory medicine, ophthalmology, and stress management. The joint endeavour showcased the commitment of professionals and staff in addition to the Interact Club’s hard work. The Medical Camp that offered the Trinity College community vital healthcare services, further demonstrated a community-wide commitment to health. Together with medical professionals, the interators reflected on the benefits of their work as the event came to an end. The Interact Club would like to thank Vision Care Optical Pvt. Ltd., Gamma Interpharma Pvt. Ltd., Lanka Hospitals Diagnostics, and the Medical Officer of Health and Staff in Kandy for their invaluable contributions, which were instrumental in the success of these events. The collaborative attitude was extended to educators, medical professionals, and support personnel, all of whom provided invaluable assistance and active participation. The Trinity Doctors’ Association and the medical professionals who kindly gave of their time and knowledge are greatly appreciated by the Interact Club. There is an appreciation for the teamwork that made these events successful as the Interact Club looks back on the conclusion of the Interact calendar for 2023. The question of whether this is the end or the start of something new lingers, suggesting that there may be more community service and healthcare projects in the future, guaranteeing the continuity of TCK’s remarkable volunteerism and altruism.
The Islamic Students’ Movement of Trinity College held a vibrant and spirited Islamic Day Competition on the 4th of November 2023, celebrating the richness of Islamic culture and knowledge. The day commenced with a Qirath and an inspiring speech delivered by the President of the Islamic Students’ Movement setting the mood for a day brimming with talent and dedication. The competition featured a diverse array of events that showcased the students’ skills and expertise, including Essay writing, Oratory, Calligraphy, Quiz, Qaseedha , Solo Song performances, and Qur’an recitation (Quirath). Each event was passionately contested, displaying the participants’ dedication and prowess in their respective fields. The atmosphere throughout the day was filled with excitement as students from 20 schools enthusiastically participated, each vying for the coveted shield that will be awarded to the lucky winner later during the year. The successful execution of the competitions highlighted the commitment of both participants and organizers, fostering a sense of camaraderie and celebration of Islamic traditions within the Trinity College community. A special thanks go out to all the students, teachers, and the organising committee for their tireless efforts in making the Islamic Day Competition a resounding success, embodying the spirit of unity and cultural appreciation within the university.
Reviewed by Chaniru Senhas (Web Content Team) The Gavel Club of Trinity College successfully held a workshop on the fundamentals of speech evaluation for its members on the 26th of October 2023 at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Auditorium. TM Mohamed Yasir, who is among the best toastmasters in Kandy, conducted this session from 2.30pm onwards, inspiring all the young gaveliars who took part. He excels in the field of teaching, by profession, and has been a Toastmaster since 2018. He is also the immediate Past Division Director of Division F (2022-2023) of Toastmasters International. Public speaking and communication skills are among the most basic and most important skills for any individual to possess to successfully work in society. At Trinity, students are highly encouraged and taught how to improve or develop on these skills. The Gavel Club is the gateway to the majestic world of speaking and leadership. To further assist with the development of the gaveliars, this workshop was held targeting speech evaluation, which is a key area in which the committee has identified the club members to be weak in. The session commenced in the auditorium with Mrs. Thilanka Niyangoda, the Teacher-in-charge, and 25 gaveliers. It was an engaging and interactive session that encouraged active participation from of attendees. All club members who attended this session provided good feedback and expressed how much of an impact it had made on their career in general. The session has vastly improved the way Trinity Gaveliars evaluate speeches not only at meetings, but possibly in competitions, in the future. The service TM Mohamed Yasir did towards the College Gavel Club is greatly appreciated and we hope to make many more future collaborations.
2023 වසරේ සිය එකසිය දසවන අභිමානවත් සංවත්සරය සමරන ත්රිත්ව විද්යාලයීය සිංහල සාහිත්ය සංගමය විසින් සවිදහන් කරන්නට යෙදුණු ” සාහිත’23 ” උලෙළ පසු ගිය ඉල් මස සත් වන දින අත්යුත්කර්ෂවත් අන්දමින් පැවැත්වුයේ මෙසේය. මෙ වර උලෙළේ තේමාව “නවකතා රසවින්දනය” බැව් හඳුන්වා දුන්නේ අප පාසලේ සිසුන් ඉදිරිපත් කළ ‘අඹ යහළුවෝ’ නව කතාවේ කෙටි නාට්යයම අංගයකිනි. උලෙළේ ප්රධාන ආරාධිතයා ලෙස අපගේ ගරු ඇරැයුම් ලැබූයේ තේමාවට ම ඖචිත්ය ගුණයෙන් සපිරුණු සුළවතෙකි. ඒ අනෙකෙකු නො ව පේරාදෙණි විශ්වවිද්යාලයයේ සිංහල අධ්යයනාංශයේ මහාචාර්ය, සම්මානලාභී ලේඛක මහාචාර්ය ලියනගේ අමරකීර්ති සූරීන් ය. යාච්ඤාවෙන් හා පොල්තෙල් පහන දැල්වීමෙන් ඇරැඹුණු උලෙළට සපැමිණි සියලු දෙනා පිළිගනු ලැබූයේ අප සංගමයේ සභාපති සෙත්මල් දිසානායක සොයුරාණන් විසින් පවත්වන්නට යෙදුණු පිළිගැනීමේ කතාවෙනි. සපැමිණි පිරිස පිළිගැනුම වෙනුවෙන් විද්යාලයීය ජාතික නර්තන කණ්ඩායම විසින් මනෝහර පූජා නර්තනයක් ද ඉදිරිපත් කරන ලදි. අප පාසලේ සිසුන් වෙනුවෙන් පැවැත්වුණු සාහිත – සිංහල භාෂා සහ සාහිත්ය තරගාවලියේ සහතිකපත් ප්රදානය පැවැත්වුණු අතර මෙහි දී දෙවන බස ලෙස සිංහල හදාරන සිසුනට ද සහතිකපත් ප්රදානය කිරීමට අවස්ථාව උදා වීම අප සංගමය ලද භාග්යයකි. උලෙළේ වැදැගත් ම අංගවලින් එකක් වූයේ අප සංගමය විසින් සංවිධානය කළ ‘තාර්කික බවේ මංපෙත් විවර කරන බුද්ධිමය මෙහෙයුම’ තේමාව රැගත් ” වාග් ප්රතිභා’23 ” අන්තර් පාඨශාලීය විවාද තරගාවලියේ අවසන් මහා සංග්රාමය පැවැත්වීම යි. අවසන් මහා සංග්රාමයට සුදුසුකම් ලැබ සිටි මහනුවර විද්යාර්ථ විද්යාලයය සහ මහනුවර ශ්රී චන්දානන්ද බෞද්ධ විද්යාලයය එ ලෙස වේදිකාව සිය වාග් චාතුර්යයෙන් සහ තර්කන ශක්යතාවෙන් කලම්බනය කළෝය. විවාදයේ මාතෘකාව වූයේ “වත්මන් ලංකීය කලාව ළමා රසවින්දනයට ගැළැපෙන ලෙස නිර්මාණය වී ඇත / නිර්මාණය වී නැත.” යන්න යි. විද්යාර්ථයෝ යෝජක පක්ෂයෙනුත්, චන්දානන්දයෝ ප්රතියෝජක පක්ෂයෙනුත් විවාද බිමට පය තැබූ හ. තියුණු විවාදයකින් අනතුරු ව වාග් ප්රතිභා’23 ශූරතාව හිමි කරගැනීමට මහනුවර විද්යාර්ථ විද්යාලයය සමර්ථ වී ය. ජයග්රාහී විද්යාර්ථ විද්යාලයයටත් අනුශූරතාව දිනාගත් චන්දානන්ද බෞද්ධ විද්යාලයයටත් අපගේ නො මඳ ශුභාශංසන හිමි වේ. අප පාසලේ නාට්ය සංසදයේ සිසුන් විසින් ‘ගම්පෙරළිය’ නව කතාවේ කෙටි අංගයක් වේදිකාවේ රඟදක්වා රැස්වූවනගේ සිත් පිනැවී ය. සාහිත – අන්තර් පාඨශාලීය සිංහල භාෂා සහ සාහිත්ය තරගාවලියේ සහතිකපත් ප්රදානය සිදුවූයේ උලෙළේ ආරාධිත මහාචාර්ය ලියනගේ අමරකීර්ති සූරීන් විසිනි. සහතිකපත් ප්රදානයෙන් පසු ව යෙදුණේ මහාචාර්ය අමරකීර්ති සූරීන්ගේ මූලදේශනය යි. නවකතාව ජීවිතයේ ශුභසාධනයට යොදා ගත හැකි අයුරු සහ ඉන් සමාජය ගොඩනැංවිය යුතු අයුරු පිළිබඳ ව එතුමෝ සාරගර්භ දේශනයක් පැවැත්වූ හ. මූලදේශනයෙන් අනතුරු ව අප හා එක් වී උලෙළට දුන් සහයෝගය අගයනු වස් එතුමනට උපහාර දැක්වීමක් සිදුවිණි. විද්යාලයීය පෙරදිග සංගීත සංගමයේ වාද්ය වෘන්දය සහ ගායක කණ්ඩායම විසින් රැස්වූවන් පිනැවීම කෙරේ නවකතා ද්වයක් ආශ්රයෙන් රැසැයුණු ‘ගඟ අද්දර මා’ සහ ‘කොහේ ද කොහේ ද අපේ ලොවක්’ යන ගී ද්විත්වය ඉදිරිපත් කරන ලදි. ඒ ගැයුම්වල සහ වැයුම්වල මාධූර්යයට සහ අනර්ඝත්වයට සාක්ෂ්ය ය රැස්වූවන් අතින් නිරායාසයෙන් ම නැඟුණු අත්පොළසන් නද. සිය සිවු තිස් වසරක සේවා කාලයෙන් තිස් වසරක් ම විද්යාලයීය සිංහල සාහිත්ය සංගමයේ ගරු අනුශාසකතුමිය ලෙස කටයුතු කළ ප්රියංගනී රන්දෙණිය ගුරුමෑණියන් උලෙළේ දී කාගේත් සම්භාවනාවට පත් කොට උපහාර පිදීමට ද අපි අමතක නො කෙළෙමු. මුල් කල උලෙළ පිළිබඳ කතිකා කරගත් හුදු වචන මාත්රය සැබෑවක් කොට ප්රායෝගික තලයට ගෙන ඒමටත්, සාර්ථක කරගැනීමටත් නො මඳ සහයෝගය දැක්වූ ගුරුමෑණිවරු, ගුරුපියවරු සහ අප සහෝදරවරු, ආදි සහෝදරවරු මෙන්ම සහය දුන් අප දෙමව්පියන්ටත්, අනුග්රහයක භවතුන් අතුළු සියලු දෙනාටත් අපගේ ගෞරවාදර පූර්වක ස්තුතිය මෙන් ම ප්රණාමය පුද කිරීමට කැමැත්තෙමු. තවද , මෙම කර්තව්යය සාර්ථක කරගැනීමෙහිලා ඇප කැප වු අප කමිටු සාමාජිකයන් ද කිසිසේත් අමතක කළ නොහැක. සභාපති – සෙත්මල් දිසානායක, උපසභාපති – සෙත්ලත් දිසානායක, ලේකම් – අමෝද කොස්සලවත්ත, උපලේකම් – විරුණ ප්රියනන්ද, උපභාණ්ඩාගාරික – මෙතුල් දිසානායක, සම්බන්ධිකාරක – දුමිඳු වීරසූරිය, සම සම්බන්ධිකාරක – කෙවින් අධිකාරි, සංස්කාරක – දුලිත් කුරේ, සම සංස්කාරක – නේමින්දර නත්තරම්පොත, තාක්ෂණික කමිටුව – බ්රයන් අශෙල්, මාර්ක් මෙලොහිසන්, දිසත් ජයසිංහ, අලංකරණය හා වෙනත් කටයුතු – හසරංග ප්රේමවර්ධන, කෙනත් පානබොක්ක, නදිල් අබේරත්න, කාන්චන හේරත් හා ඉඳුවර ජයසිංහ උලෙළේ නිමාවට පෙර ස්තුති කතාව පවත්වන්නට යෙදුණේ අප සංගමයේ ලේකම් අමෝද කොස්සලවත්ත සොයුරාණන් විසිනි. අවසන පාසල් ගීය සහ ජාතික ගීය ගයා රැස්වූවන් සාර ඵල නෙළාගැනීම පිළිබඳ වූ සන්තුෂ්ටි නේත්රයෙන් යුක්ත ව විසිර ගිය හ. දිගාසිරි වේ වා! විරුණ ප්රියනන්ද,උපලේකම්,සිංහල සාහිත්ය සංගමය.