Wonder boy’s ‘Knight Rider’ car

Kapila Somaratna, Panadura group corr.

PANADURA: Rajeev Ravindranath Fernando, 24, an old boy of Panadura Sri Sumangala boys school hits the road in a self-made motor car.

He proved his innovative genius for the third time when he turned out a fully modified motor car named “RX7’ using mostly scrap parts from his father’s motor garage at their home at Nalluruwa, Panadura.

He first modified a motor car and exhibited it at the exhibition of the Kalutara Maha Vidyalaya in the year 2000 and won the first prize at the time he was an Advanced Level student of the Panadura Sri Sumanagala College.

From his childhood Rajeev practically grew with motor cars of which there was a collection of discarded parts at the back yard of the father’s motor garage.

When he returned home after school , he spent time at the garage helping the motor mechanic at the garage and learnt more about motor mechanism.

His first production was “Rajeev 2000” modified motor car its windows were made of plastic and the petrol tank fitted on the roof.

The car was powered by a 1300cc engine and equipped with disc brakes.

He then turned a left-hand drive motor car to right-hand drive motor car.

The latest modified production is named “RX7”. It could run at speed of 170 kilometres per hour. Petrol consumption is 40 MPG. Four persons including the driver could easily travel in the car with comfort.

His brothers Gavesh Viswanath Fernando and Suresh Fernando and father Vigjith Fernando former Panadura Urban Councillor and mother helped him very much to make his efforts a success Gavesh said after travelling with me in the modified car.

He is the grandson of former Observer Editor Lionel Fernando.