News
3D Printing Workshop at S. Thomas’ College
By Capt. G.A. Fernando
Hony Secretary,
S. Thomas. College, Mount Lavinia, Old Boys’ Centenary Group.
3D printing is fast becoming a household name in modern usage. This is mainly due to the printers themselves becoming cheaper to purchase, and consumers realising the technology’s amazing capability to design and build components for art, science, biomedical and engineering applications, and much more.
This technology is transforming many industries by being able to customize for specific applications in industries such as construction, food, agriculture, fashion, hobbies, etc. Components can be designed and built at the site using recyclable material, thus reducing the requirement for shipping and logistics, while also benefiting from shorter lead times and reduced environmental impact.
3D printing consists of two primary activities, namely the design phase, and the printing phase. At the core of the first is 3D designing using CAD (Computer-Aided Design) software and modeling. In the printing process, material in the 3D printer is deposited or solidified layer by layer according to the digital model created. This is achieved by controlling the feed rate of the material through a heated nozzle or precision head, ensuring it melts or solidifies at a controlled temperature.
The precise movement of the head along the X, Y and Z axes is managed by a computerised system with three motors, each allowing for accurate layering and creation of a three-dimensional shape. Diverse materials, including those that are wood-based, conductive, flexible and rigid, cater to a range of applications. In specialized fields such as the food industry, printers craft intricate icing designs on chocolates and cakes. In the automotive and aviation sectors, 3D printers are utilized to manufacture metal parts for applications demanding high standards of precision and reliability.
Vice President Eddie Appathurai of the S. Thomas’ College Old Boys’ Centenary Group awarding a Certificate to one of the participants
S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia, with the guidance of the Warden and Sub-Warden, recently conducted a 3D printing workshop. The first venture of its kind in any school in Sri Lanka, this initiative aimed at introducing modern technology to students was proposed by Dr Chandika Wickramatillake, an Old Boy of the school, and financially supported by STC’s Centenary Group of Old Boys.
Two additional partners, a supplier, and an academic institution, combined resources to support and execute the program. They were Sri Lanka’s leading 3D printing company, ‘Thrimana’; and the Technology Department of the University of Colombo.
The two-day workshop was conducted at the Mt. Lavinia campus on 15th and 16th September 2023, with 22 college students from grades 7 to 11 registered for the program. Students interested in this technology had little or no understanding of and proficiency in the subject to begin with, nor knowledge of the physical printing techniques involved in converting the ‘raw’ material to a component, from a design.
Many printers and high-speed computers were set up by Thrimana. Students were divided into groups of four or five, with two 3D printing expert technicians allocated to each team to support knowledge-sharing, provide detailed explanations, and offer hands-on practical support during sessions.
The first day’s morning session consisted of learning basic 3D printing technology from the University of Colombo lecturer. In the afternoon, students began using the 3D design software to make small components such as chess pieces and pen holders.
On the second day, students progressed to designing components for a self-guiding vehicle, with electronic components and sensors provided by Thrimana. Next, attendees started building and testing the vehicle with their well-designed wheels, chassis parts, etc, completing the build in time to participate in a competition.
Five teams then challenged each other to have their vehicles travel accurately on a self-guided path, as well as a straight, high-speed track. The team named ‘Cyber Designers’ won the overall competition. All students were rewarded for their participation with a 3D model and an academic certificate from the University of Colombo.
The overall expectation was to equip these budding innovators with foundational knowledge and hands-on experience in this cutting-edge technology. It is hoped that the workshop, and others like it, will fulfill their goal of inspiring a new generation of designers, engineers and visionaries to play a pivotal role in shaping future of technology in Sri Lanka.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
