2009 Microsoft Imagine Cup World Finals:

Three teams from Moratuwa University

Seven undergraduates belonging to three teams from the University of Moratuwa will compete in this year's Microsoft Imagine Cup World Finals to be held in Cairo, Egypt from July 3 to 8, 2009.

Through this world's most coveted student technology competition, Microsoft encourages youth around the world to apply their imagination, passion and creativity to technology innovations that can make a tangible difference in a world looking for solutions to many pressing problems.

A total of over 800 students from Sri Lankan higher education institutes joined over 300,000 from around the globe to enter the competition to "Solve the Toughest Problems Facing Us Today" - the theme for this year.

Amila Sajayahan, Sanjaya Ratnayake, Anuruddha Ranatunga and Ruvindee Tharaka from the Faculty of Information Technology compete in the "Embedded Development" category. Their vision is for using IT to enhance traditional agricultural practices as a means towards eradicating hunger.

They have previously competed in the world finals in the Software Design category in 2007 held in Korea, having won the local competition.

Pramuditha Aravinda, the one-man team from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering competes as one of the top six in the "Robotics and Algorithms" category. The task he has undertaken is the control of the Mars Rover for the Endurance Crater mission.

Supunmali Ahangama and Dasuni Kannangara of the Faculty of Information Technology are competing in the category "Mash UP", and are among the top six teams in this category.

Their contribution is an electronic approach for connecting microfinancing organizations and deserving women as a step towards poverty alleviation and empowering women. Dasuni and Supunamli, members of the winning team at the local competition in 2008, have represented Sri Lanka at the world finals held in Paris in the Sofware Design category.

Students of the University of Moratuwa have competed in the world finals every year since 2005. Being able to compete on a global stage and qualify for the World Finals in this highly competitive event is no doubt a mark of the skills, talents and creativity of our students.