CHILDREN

Remarkable Sri Lankan Scientist

Dr. Ray Wijewardene:

It was more than six years ago that I met Dr. Ray Wijewardene, in his study surrounded by books, models of the aircraft he had built and many paintings, some of them painted by none other than this eminent scientist himself. Though he had stopped flying by the time I met him, he was still a pilot at heart. When I asked him for directions to his house he said “you can find me at gps: N.06’54.76”E.79’51.57.”

Dr. Wijewardene, who built and flew his own helicopters, goes down in world history as the engineer who invented the world’s first two-wheeled, hand tractor. Invented in 1955, the tractor was soon produced by Landmaster company in Nottingham, UK and was introduced to small farmers in Asian, African and Latin American countries.

Though Dr. Wijewardene promoted the tractor among farmers at first, he soon realized “Ultimately, the tractor only mechanized the buffalo, and that too, not very well. It did not have the reproductive capability of the buffalo! Nor could it produce milk as the buffalo did, or fertilize our fields!”

From then on Dr. Wijewardene dedicated his life to searching for nature-friendly ways of farming and less harmful methods of producing energy. He became a world authority on tropical farming systems, and was the Head of Agricultural Engineering at the Mechanization and Automation Research Centre (MARDI), at the Food and Agriculture Organization in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He also worked as the Head of the Agricultural Engineering and Research at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Ibadan, Nigeria.

“We scientists are overly interested in wearing our caps and gowns, which are only appurtenances of erudition. All these qualifications and awards are not important. We must know how to adapt science to suit our environment, our people, our country”, said Dr. Wijewardene, the day I met him.

Dr. Wijewardene’s solution was simple. Our country should become non-dependent on the “essentials;” food, health and energy. “We can grow all our food,” said Dr. Wijewardene, “because we have lovely land” and explained that, instead of depending on imported fertilizer we should move towards natural methods of farming. Even though the harvest may drop at first, after the soil restoring organisms return, he assured, the crop will pick up again.

Dr. Wijewardene also believed the world need not wait for billions of years until trees turn into oil when we can utilize even the dry zone to grow our own fuel. “We can grow all the country’s fuel requirements for the next hundred years,” assured Dr. Wijewardene.

In 1985, he introduced the concept of Dendro Power to show how dependence on imported oil could be reduced by literally ‘growing our energy.’

Born on August 20, 1924, Philip Revatha (Ray) Wijewardene had his primary and secondary education at Ladies’ College, Colombo, and S. Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia. He continued his education at Peterhouse College, Cambridge University, UK, where he studied three branches of engineering -- aeronautical, mechanical and agricultural.

He also earned qualifications in business administration from the Harvard Business School, and was the Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, and a Doctor of Science (honoris causa) also from the University of Moratuwa. He was also a skilled pilot, a sportsman who excelled in water sports, a violinist and a painter. He passed away on August 18, 2010.

Calling himself a “small revolutionary” Dr. Wijewardene said instead of waiting for someone else to make what he needed, he often made it himself.By this he meant planes and helicopters. Pointing to pictures of fourteen unusual aircraft he asked me ‘Do you know where they were made?” He tapped his desk with his finger. “Here. Downstairs, in my garage.”

Recalling the days when he used to fly in his home-built gyroplanes and helicopters, Dr. Wijewardene said flying is a marvelous experience because when you look at Sri Lanka from over 2,500ft you realise how beautiful our country is- the finest on the tropical belt. “People say we do not have resources. This is not true. If we have a clear objective, clear goals, we Sri Lankans can achieve anything we want.”

Hope you too will think the same way Dr. Wijewardene thought. “We Sri Lankans can achieve whatever we want, if we really want to.”

Aditha ([email protected])

The world around you

Dear Children,

We live in a world which is constantly changing. Almost every minute something new happens. Unlike in the past today plenty of communication methods are available to get updated about what is happening around us. There are newspapers (both print version and electronic version), radio and television news, mobile phone news alerts, news websites and many more. So how can you idle around without paying any attention to the happenings around the globe?

When you are at home you can go through newspapers. You can sit leisurely on a bench in your garden and read interesting news stories and features. Also do not forget to enjoy cartoons that you find in newspapers. Cartoons have a special language. If you find it difficult to understand the ideas implied in cartoons you can get the assistance of your parents. When you follow them regularly you will be able to grasp the meaning on your own.

Never forget to read foreign news pages. You should know the names of world leaders- at least of prominent countries. What if somebody asked you “What do you think of Barack Obama or Vladimir Putin?”, or “Who is Rahul Gandhi?” and you simply give them a blank look? I am sure none of you belong to that category, I am correct. Right?

However know that it is not only U.S.A., Russia or India, that are important, but other countries too deserve your attention.

What about local happenings that directly affect us. Whenever there is an important incident, be attentive. Last Monday Sri Lanka’s 65th Independence Day celebrations were held on a grand scale in Trincomalee. It is important to listen to speeches made by the Head of State on such occasions.

Also there are special programmes on television on such special days with the participation of academics. Watch these programmes and enrich your knowledge about the country’s history and great sacrifices made by our heroes to save this land from foreign invasions. Hope you know that the National War heroes’ day will be celebrated in May. Hereafter remember these important days.

When you keep yourself updated about the things that are happening around you daily, you do not have to make an extra effort to learn them by heart when an exam is nearing.

You can very easily score full marks for the general knowledge paper at any exam. However as you get used to it you will find it interesting and will want to continue the habit forever whether it is of exam value or not..

Bye for now, Sanju ([email protected])

Australia

Kangaroos hopping in the North
To the South of the Dijeridoo
Koala’s climbing in the south
To the sway of the gum trees
Ostriches pecking in the zoo
To the rhythm of the steps
Devils screaming in Tasmania
To the sight of the beautiful trees
Victorians rushing around
To the sound of music
Me sleeping in my bed
To the sight of Australia, my home.
Nazra Nilawfar, Grade 6B, Sailan International School,

Negombo

 

New admissions to Grade one

A ceremony was held recently at Iqra Vidyalaya, Hambantota to mark new admissions to Grade one and to distribute nourishing food among children.

The ceremony was held under the patronage of the Pincipal M Z M Irfan. Southern Provincial Council (PC) Member Catain Arjuna Silva participated for this event. Here the students and the guests being welcomed and The Southern PC Member Catain Arjuna Silva handing over a lunch box to a student.

Pictures M Irfan Zakariya, Hambantota Thinakaran Special Correspondent

[Bolt]

Bolt (2008) will be screened on February 9 at 3.30pm at the American Centre, No 44, Galle Road, Colombo 3. (Running Time: 96 minutes) The canine star of a fictional sci-fi/action show that believes his powers are real embarks on a cross country trek to save his co-star from a threat he believes is just as real.

Please contact the American Centre at [email protected] or at (011) 2498100 with any inquiries.