Review by Nimuthu Pathiraja (Web Content Team) Master. Stephan Brannon is no stranger within school. His promising inventions which are unique yet useful innovations have received great praise. Several of Master Stephan’s previous inventions were felicitated on our college website. (https://trinitycollege.lk/2022/09/23/trinitys-young-inventor-an-interview-with-brannon-stephan/) His greatest invention yet, Stephan’s love for astronomy resulted in him making a special telescope. This refractor-telescope was hand-made by Stephan himself. Initially using watch dials and lenses from broken cameras, he eventually made his dream come true. The uniqueness of this invention is due to it being powerful yet affordable. His grit and determination resulted in it being produced from the following materials. The paramount fact was that all of the materials used were homemade. Built from homemade and easily resourced materials, the telescope is a testament to ingenuity and resourcefulness as it is constructed primarily from PVC pipes and salvageable lenses old cameras. Despite the materials not being of international quality, it is fit to mention that this model is quite powerful, boasting of a focal length of 700m and an aperture of 50mm, enabling magnification facilities to an impressive 350x (without additional lenses.) Stephan’s genuine interest and passion for astronomy led to something which we can surely be proud of. He celebrates the noteworthy praise received by the famous American astronomer and planetary scientist, Henry Throop. Throop was so impressed by this remarkable feat that he posted a note of praise for Stephan on his Social Media accounts. (Henry Throop – I was giving a talk today at the Arthur C… | Facebook. The telescope shows a clear view of planets: Saturn, Jupiter, the moon and even the sun which could be considered a remarkable achievement, considering the cheap cost incurred to produce this telescope. We congratulate Master. Stephan Brannon on this wonderful invention. It is an attestation to his resolve, perseverance and tenacity. A special note of thanks goes to Mr. Subash Dhanasekara and Mr. Wasana Dissanayake for their support and direction to make this innovation a success. Brannon is grateful to his parents for giving him the freedom to explore his creative skills and encouraging him to mastermind scientific inventions. We wish Stephan all the best in his future endeavors and look forward to seeing novel pieces of work in the future.
Review by S.M.V.N.B. Sangakkara The All-Island Level Bilingual Presentation Competition – 2023, organized by the Bilingual Education Unit of the Department of Education, took place on the momentous day of December 12th at The Ministry of Education at Isurupaya, Battraramulla. Against stiff competition from twenty-seven schools that had qualified from the provincial level, Trinity College showcased their exceptional talents, securing the prestigious third place on the grand stage. Amidst the pulsating atmosphere, Trinity College’s team stood out as a beacon of excellence. Comprised of five exceptionally talented members, their collective efforts played a pivotal role in the team’s resounding success. The team members included S. Dilrukshan (Grade 9), D. B. H. Bandara (Grade 8), N. P. Wijetunge (Grade 7), V. U. Rathnayake (Grade 6), and S. M. V. N. B. Sangakkara (Grade 9). Their unwavering dedication, relentless perseverance, and passion for excellence shone through every step of the competition, propelling them towards the pinnacle of achievement, and the winning teams were awarded certificates on the 19th of December 2023. The team extends their gratitude to their esteemed teacher in charge, Mr. M. R. M. Inzimam, along with their Science Faculty Head, Mrs. Nimesha Wimalasena, and the dedicated Grade Heads, Mr. Wasana Dissanayake, Mrs. Manel Samarasinghe, Mrs. Bhagya Dissanayake & Mrs. Fathima Majeed, for their unwavering support, guidance, and encouragement. Congratulations TCK, on this remarkable triumph! May your journey continue to be filled with success, joy, and the pursuit of excellence.
Chaniru Senhas, Rehan Anandakumar and Nahidh Naseem report. We are thrilled to share our experience as participants in the “Creating Solutions for Impact,” a competition co-organized by the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) and the University of Queensland, Australia (UQ). The 2023 edition unfolded over four weeks, starting on the 5th of October, featuring a series of workshops and concluding with the Grand Finale on the 2nd of November at the SLIIT Campus in Malabe. Our journey was graced by the presence of various professors from the Engineering and IT faculties of the University of Queensland, along with some from SLIIT, who served as the judges of this competition. The kick-off was marked by an insightful masterclass on “How to sell an idea to an investor,” presented by a UQ professor. Following this, armed with newfound knowledge and individualized assistance, we dove into the competition. From the get-go, we were tasked with identifying an environmental problem and crafting a sustainable solution with a positive impact on the planet. Guided by weekly workshops, facilitated by seasoned professionals, we navigated each step of the programme, gathering knowledge that we believe extends far beyond the competitive context. The culmination of our efforts took place at the Grand Finale, where we pitched our idea to the judging panel as if we were seeking investment. We picked a common student problem: Teachers struggle to find students with the right skills for school club activities. Our solution? A website application called “Edu-Link” where students make profiles showcasing their achievements and talents. Teachers can easily find suitable students to give them the right opportunities to engage in school activities. EduLink – Presentation by Chaniru Senhas, Rehan Anandakumar and Nahidh Naseem At the Grand Finale, we – Nahidh, Chaniru, and Rehan – won the “People’s Choice Award.” People voted for us, and besides certificates, we got a pair of Apple Airpods Pro. It added a GenZ touch to our well-deserved victory. We are looking forward to what comes next. Cheers to teamwork and making positive changes in the world through education and technology!
Nimuthu Pathiraja reports. Young masters from grades 6 and 7 at Trinity College have harnessed their inner strengths and creativity to mastermind inspiring contraptions that could make welcoming changes to humankind. These young inventors, through a tremendous amount of grit and resilience, have made their parents and teachers proud. ‘Densor 2’ Inventor Master Yashwin Fernando. Considering the adverse effects of plastic and the factors affecting oil distribution, ‘Densor 2’ will minimise pollution and harvest much-needed fossil fuel from our waste. As plastic is an extract of crude oil, Densor 2 intakes plastic and converts it into gasoline and LP gas. In a process of heating up polythene and plastic, a gaseous component is released. This gas will be cooled and condensed in the radiator to emit from the valves, LP Gas! Our skilled innovator has wisely recycled an AK12 radiator from a Nissan March, a tin oil barrel and copper and silicone pipes Water Leak Detector Inventors: Masters. Ramesh Shanjevigaran, Jed Angelo George, Hareshwar Baleshwar and Firnaz Fiaz Recognizing water as a scarce and precious resource, and the importance of minimising its waste, our students have collaborated to create a device: a large stainless-steel scale, wired expertly to avoid power shortages, would detect the source of water leaks. Solid Waste Management System Inventors: Masters Viduna Rathnasiri, Akain Wijerathne, Prabuditha Wijethunga, Chenul Dias, and Nethmira Godigama This efficient Solid Waste management system engages in the collection, treatment and disposal of solid waste. This invention will save natural resources, protect biodiversity, and encourage a sustainable lifestyle. The process starts with an ultrasonic sensor manually detecting IR. A signal is sent to the servo, which opens and closes the mouth of the garbage dumper. Refuse goes in on a slide to the conveyor where the process starts. Large pieces of plastic and polythene will be stuck in a barrier. Smaller portions of food and garden refuse will directly move towards Bin No.1. The pieces which get stuck will move along to the 2nd dustbin. This magnificent invention has made use of a Servo motor, Ultrasonic Distance sensor, Bearings and shafts, Conveyor Cloth strips, a 12v motor, 4 3.7-volt batteries and other electronic equipment. Monkey Deterrent Device Inventor: Master. Gagana Jayasooriya In recent times, Monkeys, have caused considerable damage to public and private property and agriculture. In a move to protect both the primate and property, a highly effective and efficient device has been invented. Electricity is provided to positive terminals that are directly connected to a sensor, buzzer, and a motor. The negative current will flow through the terminals of the transistor and connect them to the negative terminals of a sensor. Consequently, a faint sound wave will be released to scare monkeys away, ensuring their safety as well as protection of human livelihood. This novel creation consists of a motion sensor module, a transistor, a resistor, a buzzer, a motor, a bread board, and other electronic necessities. Coal Powered Street Model Inventors: Masters Deenith and Mahadhi Energy is one of the most important and scarce resources. Therefore, this new process to convert coal to energy could be considered an immense discovery. After charcoal is heated, the motor is switched on and the lid of a turbine oscillates. Water vapor stimulates the turbine, making it spin. While the turbine spins, the Dynamo will also spin. Electricity is generated to power model streetlights. This invention was produced with turbines, dynamos, gear motors etc. Through tremendous astounding planning, dedication and grit, the youngsters have devised timely appliances which deserve praise. On a final say, it is fair to state that these innovations have been made through an unprecedented amount of planning, dedication, grit, resilience, and perseverance. These inventions are much appreciated and encouraged. We must also note down a special word of gratitude goes to the immense guidance shown by the Science teacher Mr. Mohammed Inzimam and the parents of these students. Words of appreciation should be conveyed to the Headmistress of the Middle School Mrs. Krishni George, Mrs. Bhagya Dissanayake and Mrs. Fathima Majeed must also be acknowledged for their unstinted guidance. We wish all the students in their future endeavours to make the world a better place.
We are proud to announce that Master Rahal Walisundara, from the 2022 batch, has been chosen to represent Sri Lanka at the prestigious International Biology Olympiad Competition 2023. Rahal’s remarkable achievement came after securing the first-place position in the final round of the Sri Lanka Biology Olympiad (SLBO). This outstanding performance led to his selection as Sri Lanka’s representative at the highly anticipated International Biology Olympiad Competition (IBO) 2023. The IBO is scheduled to be held at the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) in Al-Ain, UAE, from July 3rd to July 11th. Accompanied by the top four students, including Rahal, the Sri Lankan team will depart for the UAE on July 2nd to participate in the IBO. This global event draws students and jury members from over 80 countries, making it a highly prestigious competition in the field of biology. Rahal’s journey to this remarkable achievement began when he applied for the SLBO in 2022. In the initial round, he secured a silver medal, showcasing his exceptional skills and knowledge in the subject. Subsequently, gold and silver medalists competed in the final round held at Sri Jayawardanapura University in Colombo, where Rahal emerged victorious, claiming the first-place position among all gold and silver medalists. The SLBO competition is renowned across the country, attracting thousands of students from various regions. Rahal’s exceptional performance in this challenging contest is a testament to his dedication and academic prowess. The Biology Olympiad competition goes beyond the scope of the local GCE A/L syllabus, emphasizing critical thinking and practical aspects of biology. Trinity College congratulates Rahal Walisundara on this extraordinary achievement and wishes him the very best as he represents Sri Lanka at the International Biology Olympiad 2023. Rahal’s success serves as an inspiration to students across the country, highlighting the importance of perseverance and scholarly pursuit in the field of biology. For more information, please visit: International Biology Olympiad (ibo-info.org)
Trinity College has had its proud shares of young innovators in the past. Two very creative and inventive students from Grade 6 and 7 respectively namely Master Viduna Rathnasiri and Master Sharlene Bandara have developed an Automatic Plant Watering system and an Arduino Pesticide Spray car respectively. Automatic Plant Watering System To water plants, it is indispensable to have a knowledge about the relevant weather factors which authorize the system to pour the required amount of water. This project which is designed by the very intelligent and clever Master Viduna Rathnasiri allows the watering mechanism to measure the amount of water which is required to the plot using a soil moisture sensor. The beneficial fact of the system is that it will operate like a closed loop system to avoid any damages at the crops due to high water content in the soil. Material Used Arduino Nano IC, Soil Moisture Sensate, Thermistor, 1kOhm resistor, Dot board, half of a Soleroid Valve and some wires. Arduino Pesticide Spray Car This excellent innovation can take off pesticides which control pests without any direct control of the humans, resulting in a greater and successful harvest. Developed to make the life of the every-day farmer easier, this device is certainly a one which is awe-inspiring. The innovative and talented student who is behind this productive invention is Master Sharlene Bandara. Material Used Arduino Board, IR Sensors, Wheels, Gear Motors, Wires, Code Wire, Pesticide liquid, Bouth, Lead, Glue Stick, Switch and Lead. The principled inspiration for the above innovations was none other than to make the life of the farmer an easier one. It is a very conscientious fact to help these gifted masterminds to become great and valuable inventors and we wish them all the best with their future endeavours. We also thank Mr. Mohamed Inzimam and Mr. Wasana Dissanayake who guided these students to create such handy products. Reviewed by Mast. Nimuthu Pathiraja (Web Content Team)
It has been quite sometime since we wrote about Trinity’s innovators. Our previous posts introduced Master Venura Wijesekara who invented a Briefcase Computer and a Wireless Stethoscope. In this article we are delighted to introduce to you, Master Brannon Stephan – a young student from Grade 08 who has been experimenting on multiple innovations on his own. Master Brannon Stephan came to Trinity in Grade 06 after studying at St. Anthony’s College, Kandy. Being the only child in the family, Brannon was inspired at a very young age where his first experiments started with making various structures with Legos combined with gear motors and other parts together. He gained knowledge by reading a variety of science books and using the internet. Moreover, he persuaded his parents to bring numerous broken computers and mobile components for his projects. Brannon’s intense curiosity in creative experimentation lead his parents to encourage him to participate at IgniterSpace – a makerspace organisation in Sri Lanka where Brannon learnt many uses of Arduino boards and other innovative work. Gradually Brannon realised his interests were more in the field of Physics. The global pandemic of Covid-19 helped him to further use the time at home to work on many creative ideas. Brannon is also a young chorister of the Trinity College Choir and hopes to partake in sports such as Swimming and Basketball in the future. He hopes to become an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer in the field of Aeronautical engineering. While we admire young Master Brannon Stephan’s creative ability, we also wish him best for all his future experiments and endeavors. We also thank Mr. Wasana Dissanayake and Mr. Subash Dhanasekara for bringing the Web Content Team’s attention to Brannon’s talents. We invite young Trinity innovators who are critical and creative thinkers to write to us on website@trinitycollege.lk as we continue to explore vistas of excellence. Watch the video below, as Brannon presents his latest innovations: Smartphone Projector Material Used: A custom built projector using a cardboard box and two Convex lens. How it works: The convex lens captures the light from the phone, magnifying the image. It also flips the image, so if you turn the phone upside down, the projected image will be upright. Mini Microscope Material Used: Mini microscope was built using two blank CD cases, DVD lens, two 1.5V batteries, battery case, wires, LED light, switch, 2 inch ball screws & ball nuts, piece of wooden board and two slides. How it works: The light reflects off an object when it is viewed under the microscope and passes through the lens, it bends towards the eye which makes the object look bigger than its actual size. Laser Beam Microscope Material Used: Laser Beam Microscope was built using laser light, injection cylinder, small wooden tray, few BBQ sticks, piece of mirror glass, bulb cover, ball screw and nut. How it works: A microscope works using lenses to magnify an image. In this microscope, the drop of water acts as the lens. As the lesser light passes through the drop of water the light is bent (refracted) as it enters the leaves the round water drop. Tiny living specimen appears in front of the light, creating shadows. Foam Slicer Material Used: Foam Slicer was built using a wooden board, nuts, two rubber bands, nichrome strings, electric wires and a drill to punch the hole. How it works: The heated Nichrome string melts the block of foam for the correct measurement while dragging the block on the board (Nichrome is collection of nickel and chromium).
Earlier in 2019, we did an article about the boy with the briefcase computer; Master Venura Wijesekara Venura has come back with another unique invention – a wireless stethoscope! The reasoning behind Venura’s invention is to make it easier for doctors to check their patients while maintaining their distance during the Covid-19 pandemic. This stethoscope is the first of its kind, a ‘tubeless’ device and it allows the doctor to connect their own stethoscope to the sensor unit. Interview with Venura Following is an interview we recently did with Venura Wikesekara: Read about Venura’s Briefcase Computer!
We came across a very talented Trintian who composes and plays his own music. This young Trinity Mozart is Hasitha Epakande from grade 12. We first got to hear Hasitha’s playing on an Instagram post and thought that he deserves a bit of recognition. Being an interested young chap in Western Music, Hasitha first started to play a piano in grade 6. Eventually he completed IWMS music exams up to Grade V and bought a piano while he was in grade 9. Hasitha says that he watched so many classical music videos and was influenced by the compositions and their composers. Although we have compared Hasitha to Mozart, his all time favourite composers are Beethoven and Liszt! A modern day composer Hasitha has his compositions uploaded on Musescore, an online website where music can be put into score sheets with playback and download options for visitors. To this date, he has completed 4 piano compositions and 1 orchestral composition: December Winds ( Nocturne in D Minor ) China La Mattina (The Morning) (Orchestral) Der Kolibri ( The Hummingbird) Dance of Death (Etude in A Minor) A committed pianist Hasitha improved his technique with the help of his teachers and by watching videos of technical studies of different composers, and of course by practising a lot! “Always maintain a natural hand technique which is neither a Stiff one nor an Over – Relaxed one.” – says Hasitha For those who study music, you will see that Hasitha does like to improvise on the piano, making his style of playing a bit unique, which also means that he does break few rules in Western Music similar to Jazz composers. He likes both Eastern and Western Music and also sings. At the Sri Lanka Festival of Music, Dance and Speech 2019, Hasitha became the All Island Winner of the Piano Solo (Own Choice), and at the same competition, he also received the London College of Music Trophy for the Best Outstanding Piano Solo. Hasitha is grateful to all those who have supported him and continues to do so throughout his music journey. He specially thanks his parents, his brother (who also happens to be a talented singer!), his Western Music teachers: Mrs L.C.N.C Surendrakumar, Mrs K George and Mrs L. I. Hettige, his friends Rahal, Pamuditha, Mark and Shehan and many more. Hasitha is studying for his ALs in the Physical Science stream. “Let your feelings flow through the instrument, neither over-relaxing nor straining, but naturally.” – Hasitha Appreciation over competition In a society where every sport and entertainment activity is considered a competition, with few judges making the decisions, we have taken quite a different approach in recognizing and appreciating the talents of young Trinitians and giving them the motivation of ‘becoming best at what they do’. We hope this would be the first of many posts to appear on the website in the future! If you know of a Trinitian or a group talented in music or any other activity, write to us via our feedback form on the College website. We always try our best to highlight every group and individual in school. Hasitha Epakande in action – playing Dance of Death (Etude in A Minor): An improvisation in B Flat Minor:
While working for the College Website Team I have met many students talented in various disciplines. But when I heard that an 11th grader had made a PC in a briefcase, I was taken by surprise. I wanted to meet him and see his creation for myself. While waiting in the second floor of the CLC with a junior author, a smart and confident looking fellow walked up the stairs with heavy briefcase in his hands. Master Venura Wijesekera invented a portable high specification PC which is built into a briefcase, along with a 3D printed mobile phone which has a transparent display. Currently he’s in Grade 12 hoping to pursue in Maths for his A/Ls. Following is a short review of his inventions and how he developed his skills in software programming and building PCs. The portable computer in a briefcase – the Technotronic MR1 Given its due name ‘Technotronic’, Venura also introduces the computer as ‘MR1’ which refers to ‘Military Rugged’ as it is designed to meet similar specifications for military use: being shockproof and water resistant. Venura’s idea to make a briefcase PC was inspired by the film ‘Kingsmen: The Golden Circle’ which has a briefcase used as a high-tech grenade launcher. In 2016, during Venura’s 9th grade year, he started his research, gathering the components, and programming the software to suit his concept. The process of constructing the computer started during the course of last year. The surprising fact for us was that, he had only taken 48 hours to put all the components together and build the MR1 successfully all by himself without any faults or software errors. The components were bought from Colombo and Kandy suppliers, although Venura also said that he had to buy some parts online, rounding up the total cost of the entire computer close to Rs 200,000. The specifications of the computer are: a AMD Ryzen™ 5 2400G Processor with Radeon™ RX Vega 11 Graphics card; 240GB SSD and 1TB HHD storage capacity which can be extended to 84TB; a 8GB RAM which can be extended to 64GB; 12-20 hour battery life; 3 x USB 3.1 ports and running on Windows 10. The smart phone with a transparent display Venura started researching phone assembly in grade 8, where he took apart various phones to learn more about their software and hardware properties. He told us the inspiration for the idea of having a transparent display came from ‘Iron Man 2’. While the smart phone is still under a developing stage, Venura mentioned that he was able to get the ‘transparency’ of the display through configuring its chemicals and reducing its layers. The exterior body of the phone was first designed by him using AutoDesk – a software used for architecture, 3D engineering, construction, manufacturing, media and entertainment industries. The phone body was created using a 3D printer made available at the American Corner, Kandy. The specifications of the phone was reduced as the focus was entirely on its display. The specifications include: 2 SIM ports and a SD card port; 3000mAh battery , and running on Android 4.0. Venura has also experimented with Arduino boards to make robots, and made a fully functional drone which was displayed at a design and technology exhibition held in 2017 at the College Hall. When we asked him about the resources he used to learn about design and technology, he said that he mostly referred to YouTube videos and read about machine building on https://www.instructables.com. He also received the support of two Middle School staff members Mr Subash Danasekara who provided Venura with an outline for using proper motherboards for his devices, and Mr Ruchira Gangahagedara who motivated Venura to apply for the ‘Innovator of the year’ prize in Middle School which he was awarded in 2017. Venura first became fascinated with technology in 2013 while he was just in 6th grade. His enthusiasm kept growing like a flame over the years inspired by what he saw on the Internet and experiments conducted at his own lab. He is in every meaning a ‘self taught boy’ who continues to pursue his passion in technology as a hobby. However, he would not have been able to follow his interests without the support and guidance of his family: Mr Nuwan Wijesekera (father), Dr Jinadari Wijesekera (mother), and siblings Hymini Wijesekera (elder sister) and Yasassvi Wijesekera (younger brother). In a society where parents and children are forced to chase behind obtaining ‘A’s in O/L and A/L exams avoiding all extra-curricular activities, Venura is a classic example of a boy who simply followed his own steps into doing something ‘different’ and ‘unique’. We congratulate Venura Wijesekera and wish him all the best for his future work, and encourage younger Trinitians and those interested in IT and technology to follow their dreams and think ‘outside the box’. Providing a foundation to pursue interests in technology and software, Trinity College offers programming and computer science through its updated IT curriculum starting at the Junior School. Students from grade 2 and upwards are already taught ‘Scratch‘, a visual programming language for teaching programming concepts, which also teaches them to think creatively, work collaboratively, and reason systematically. Article by Sheshan Abeysekara and Parinda Ratnayake