Russian Graduates (Русские Выпускники)

20081030

Dr. Dileepa De Silva Receives Life Time Achiever's Award from British Computer Society (BCS) Sri Lanka Section

The British Computer Society (BCS) Sri Lanka Section held its National Best Quality Software Awards 2008 for the 10th occasion at the Water's Edge at Battaramulla.

Dr. Dileepa De Silva, a product of MADI, Moscow (1970-1979) and former President of BCS Sri Lanka, received coveted Life Time Achiever's Award at the above ceremony in recognition of his long standing service to the field of IT. Congratulations Dileepa!

The Membership Director of the British Computer Society of the United Kingdom John Orton was the chief guest.


The former BCS Chairman Dr. Dileepa de Silva receives the lifetime Achiever’s Award from the Chairman, Bank of Ceylon, Gamini Wickremasinghe Pic: Kavindra Perera

For more details, please follow this link: http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2008/10/26/fin09.asp

20081003

Our Colleagues Help Prison Inmates to Assimilate into the Mainstream of the Society through Skills Development.

Following message was sent by Dr. Jaya Perera.









Two of our GAASL (German Alumni Association of Sri Lanka) members, Mr H Kumarasinghe & Mrs. Neelamani de Silva with support from the National Organization for Sri Lankan Senior Citizens organized the inaugural meeting to educate the prison inmates who are about to be released to the society with an aim to let them know the importance of Skills Development and also to return back to the society. The Goethe Institute of Sri Lanka provided some financial support to the lectures. A week long training on Wood related technologies was conducted and the program was successful.

Our GAASL member, Hemantha Kumarasinghe (Advisor, Skills Development Training -Gampaha District) supported by Neelamani De Silva (GAASL member) organized the inauguration with the Welfare Society of the Prison. Training to provide hands on experience continued.


There were several personalities like Minister Panduka Bandaranaike, Amal Senadilankara (Chairman NAITA), Maj Gen Vajira Wijegoonawardena (Prison Commissioner), representatives from the National Organization for Sri Lankan Senior Citizens, Lt. Col Tabby Amaratunge (GAASL member) & several more personalities. There were about 200 or more prisoners who are about to be released.
There were several presentations by several organizations and I found that each and every one spoke on the same topic, how well they should get back to the society.
However, In my presentation, I spoke about 3 prisoners, out of which two with my personal experience.
No 1
In 1968 at the Leipzig Bahnhof Mitropa, while I was waiting to place an order, a tough looking person with a small bag came and sat in the table. He asked me whether I speak German and I said yes. He said that he speaks with a foreigner for the first time and he was in the jail for 10 years (for murdering his best friend) & is just released. I also told him that this is my first time to speak to a former prisoner. I asked him why he was there. He said "I could not control myself for 10 sec and therefore I spent 10 years in jail and there was not a single day I did not remember the incident. It is no harm in getting punished physically but my mental suffering was more than that"
We had a long chat and by force he paid for my food too. I asked him what he will do next and he said that he will take up a small wood working place from his father since he learned the subject in the prison. He asked me to come and see him one day.
I forgot him but after about 8 years I went to Quedlingburg for a seminar & then I realized that he was nearby and I went to see him. In that address, I found a fine furniture shop instead of a small place and he was inside. It took little time for him to recognize me but thereafter we had a good chat. I said that you are doing well then he said yes, thanks to the 10 years of my kind of University and now I am completely a changed man.
No 2
Second story was about Nelson Mandela who spent 27 years in the prison. One of the greatest person & I had a very rare chance of shaking hands with him at the Commonwealth Secretariat, London, UK during my tenure. He visited us soon after he was released and the Secretary General invited us to meet him over a cup of tea. I was in South Africa 4-5 times and while I was visiting his Presidential Palace he was going out with only one Police car and he was seated in the front seat of the small BMW car. That's all. When he was invited to meet the Queen, he came with his usual shirt.
I spoke a bit more about him and how he fought for his people and how humble he is and so on. Now he is welcomed every where and honorary degrees come from various corners.
By my talk I wanted them to feel that they should not consider it as a negative point being a prisoner after spending his time in the prison & they become a normal person thereafter. I also asked them to read the biography of Nelson Mandela.
No 3
The third one was about the "Birdman of Alcatraz". The multiple murderer who was destined to be hanged and was jailed for life because of the plea by his mother to President Woodrow Wilson. Later he researched on a bird that landed in his cell and studied about it for a very long time. He wrote 3 books & became an expert on the subject. Many sought his expertise.
By that I wanted the prisoners to learn anything they have special interest and one day it will come good.
I feet that my presentation picked up by them well and many met me to give their gratitude.
Regards
Jaya Perera