TRALE: Thomian Rail, Air and Logistics Exhibition 2009
Since September last year, when the idea “hatched” about a combined exhibition on transportation, ten boys along with their teacher in charge and Warden and Sub-Warden have all but lost themselves in putting to action the once ‘only dreamt about’ project.
Backed by the plan of Gihan, a former Thomian; the ten Thomians have worked their way forward to present TRALE: Thomian Rail, Air and Logistics Exhibition 2009 on the 20th and 21st of February at the College Small Grounds and Indoor Sports Complex.
“Amidst a lot of challenges like losing out on a Co-Sponsor at the last minute and having to find Rs.50,000 in two days, we really have pulled it off the ground,” says Eshan De Alwis, president of the Aeronautical club which was revived after its formation in the late 1960s. “It has been pretty hectic,” continues Eshan, “we have visited almost every institute there is relating to the fields we are covering here.” And so they say that the Civil Aviation Authority is like their second home now!
“It’s really not about just having fun or only education, it’s a combination of both; with activities, games, plenty of music and food!” adds in Roshantha, Media Coordinator of the event. Educational stalls on the three modes of transportation-road, rail and air along with career opportunity stalls on related fields and the workshop held on the 19th will cover the educational side of it. “We have invited all Colombo Schools (girl’s schools included) to take part in the workshop,” he says, “it’ll not just be informative with interactive lectures by well known persons in the field, it’ll also give them the exposure to go back and maybe form their own club.” Capt. Menaka Fernando, Prof. Amal Kumarage, Capt. Gihan Fernando are a few of the dignitaries to be present at the event.
The workshop will be followed by an interactive quiz competition and exciting presentations prepared especially for your benefit.
Come February 20 and 21 and witness the transportation fair and exhibition which promises to expose many exciting displays courtesy of many sponsoring clubs. “Among the exhibits will be cars from Vintage Car Owners’ Club, several displays by Toyota and Logiventures Pvt. Ltd. There will also be aircraft, helicopters, aircraft under carriage as well as rail tracks and train layouts,” says Anush Kumarage of Automobile Club of STC.
In addition, the Civil Aviation Authority, Sri Lanka Model Railroad club the German Tech Mechanical Training Institute, the transport department of the University of Moratuwa, as well as the National Transport Commission and the Air Force will have their stalls at the event.
An essay and art competition was held in school and the final selection will be displayed at the exhibition. “With all this we also want to encourage the talents of our fellow Thomians and so we organized these two competitions,” says Anush. The response? “Great,” he says “finally everything is done
Come one, come all, join in the excitement and be a part of this unique, out-of-the-box project of the young Thomians on February 20 and 21. Rs. 50 is all you need to enter the premises of TRALE ‘09, a journey from the beginning of journeys.
By Cheranka Mendis
Daily Mirror
Tags: colombo, exhibition, model railroad club, modes of transport, moratuwa, national transport, schools, sri lanka, st thomas collage, train, university of moratuwa
