Ganindu Nanayakkara of Ananda College Colombo won the First Award of US$3,000 for his project “Novel Computer Controlling Wireless Device for Handicapped People“, a device that allows persons with disabilities to wirelessly operate a computer, in the Computer Science category at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair 2010 Grand Awards Ceremony held on May 14, 2010.
Over 1,600 high school students from 59 countries had participated in this year’s Intel Science and Engineering Fair, the world’s largest pre-college science competition, from May 10 -14 in San Jose, CA. They had competed for awards and scholarships worth nearly four million dollars.
He received a $1,000 cash award from the National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance and the Lemelson Foundation which recognizes the innovation and invention that addresses critical basic human needs. Symantec Corporation awarded Ganindu with another $1,000 cash award.
China Association for Science and Technology awarded Ganindu a trip to attend the China Adolescents Science and Technology Innovation Contest in August. The award includs round trip flights, accommodations and cultural visits for the winners.
The winners of the annual Sri Lanka Science and Engineering Fair represented Sri Lanka at the Intel Fair.
R. A. Dimalka Maduranga Karunajeewa of Ruwanwella Rajasinghe Maha Vidyalaya and Ganindu Nanayakkara presented individual projects while T. Lasitha Lakmal, H. D. Vinushi Lakshani Kulawansa and G. K. Adeesha Udayarekha of Gnanodaya Maha Vidyalaya in Kalutara presented a team project.
It is interesting to note that in 2009, Chandula Padmasiri of Ananada College also won 3rd place with a cash award of USD 1,000 for the Electrical and Mechanical Engineering category for his invention on MobilePhone camera at the Grands Awards ceremony of Intel ISEF 2009 held recently in Nevada, USA.
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