Distress of war also mothers invention

[TamilNet, Monday, 04 June 2001, 18:47 GMT]

Mr.M.Selvin Irenius, Director of Industries, Northeast Provincial Council addressing as distinguishing guest. (Photo: TamilNet)

A Palmyrah leaf cutter, a new device invented by a fifteen-year-old girl from Mannar district won the first place in the new invention competition held among students in the northeast province. "The distress caused by war activates human minds to explore new devices to overcome the difficulties in the day to day life; and in the process new inventions are made", said Mr.M.Selvin Irenius, Provincial Director of Industries delivering keynote address at the award distribution event held Monday at Trincomalee St.Mary's College Monday.

The Sri Lanka Invention Commission in collaboration with the Provincial Ministry of Education, Cultural Affairs and Sports Monday announced the winners of the competition at the end of two-day exhibition of new inventions. Provincial Director of Education of the Northeast Mr.E.Sivanandan presided.

Mr.Lasantha Pattebendige, Deputy Director of Sri Lanka Invention Commission is seen awarding medal to the winner Miss Renika Croos. (Photo: TamilNet)

Palmyrah leaves are used for knitting mats, boxes, winnowing fans and other products widely used by Tamils in the rural parts of the north and east of Sri Lanka. Palmyrah leaves are cut by hand to produce these items. This process is not satisfactory, as all the leaves cannot be cut to standard size. This practical problem has now been overcome by the invention of a new device called Palmyrah Leaf Cutter by Miss.J.Renika Croos of St.Mary's Maha Vidyalayam in Pesalai in the Mannar district.

The new device, apart from securing a refined finish, also saves considerable time spent on cutting the leaves manually.

The new device- Palmyrah leaf cutter -invented by Miss RenikaCroos. (Photo: TamilNet)

Mr.Selvin Irenius said, "Palmyrah products lacked export markets because the products were rugged. The new invention would help refinement and also save time and cost."

Miss Renika Croos won the first prize for her invention in the senior competition. In the junior competition Master T.Samithan of Mannar Siththivinayagar Hindu College won the first prize for his invention-a Motor driven drawing pen.

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