Monday, 29 December 2014 00:03
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By Waruni Paranagamage
The award ceremony of the ‘Sahasak Nimavum’ national exhibition, organised by the Sri Lanka Inventors Commission (SLIC) under the Ministry of Technology and Research, recognised 13 technical field inventors for their innovations, last week at the BMICH.
The Dasis awards were won by the best inventors under the school and open categories while others received merit awards for their specific fields.
Representing every district in the country, 226 competitors from 13 technical and special fields participated in the exhibition, with 72 winning prizes. Junior Dasis awards went to student inventors of the cordless iron, helper guard and smart sprayer in the school category. The Dasis award for an invention in the open category went to a fuzzy-logic based rail gate control system.
Commissioner of the Sri Lanka Inventors Commission, Deepal Sooriyaarachchi, said there were five big companies which have linked with SLIC to support commercialised inventions. He stated: “Sampath Bank is delighted to give business management training to the winners.”
In the 2014 Global Innovation Index (GII), Sri Lanka placed 105 from 143 countries and placed 98 out of 142 countries in 2013.
“We need human capital, technological capital, economic capital and investors to support inventors so we can convert inventors into innovators,” Sooriyaarachchi added.
The event helped school participants to enhance their sensitivity to the environment, critical thinking, scientific knowledge application, creativity, self-confidence, communication skills and continuity.
By participating in the exhibition and facing judges, the students develop their communication skills, ability to handle objections and their propensity to presents facts logically.
The event’s guest speaker, KIK group Founder Lalith Kahatapitiya emphasised that the inventors should have a clear picture and burning desire of what they need. “We need confident, motivated and creative inventors. If they can visualise what they need they can be successful,” he said.
The Chief Guest at the event, the Secretary of the Ministry of Technology and Research, Dhara Wijayatilake, said innovation was one of the greatest contributors to national development and it was about taking ideas to the market.
“Inventors are needed for the country. During the last ten years we did not find scientists in the country who continued their innovation beyond their research,” she stated.
Wijayatilake asserted that inventors were discouraged because they received no appreciation or they could not find investors to provide them with fund. “So it is time to develop holistic programs which enhance the inventor attention,” she added.
The business community in the country has a significant role to play to enhance inventor interest. Sponsors, scholarships, equipment and encouragement are needed for the inventors to find suitable markets for their innovations, she said.
The invention of an automatic Sri Lanka sign language translator, peripheral nerve stimulator needle with extended function, safe all-terrain wheelchair and smart intelligent jacket won prizes for the special field category inventions.
Pix by Shehan Gunasekara
