Beyond the Reach - Phase II

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”

                   -John Quincy Adams

Leadership is unlocking potential of people to become better. The pessimist complains about the wind, the optimist expects it to change, but the leader adjusts the sails. Leader is the one who adjust according to the situation to face any problem with self confidence. Guiding others to the correct route is also a responsibility of a leader. As UoM Leos, we organized a programme to enhance the leadership qualities of students as it is very important to develop leadership qualities within school children.

          

This leadership development programme was held on 19^th of March at Methodist College, Hakmana. We did many entertainment activities with the students of Methodist College. They were very much interested in those activities. They simply learned how to involve in team work and how to go for a goal with effort. As leaders we were able to lead them in the right path to become good leaders because the function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers. Leaders are the creators of their life. So face the life wisely and positively. Then definitely you are a leader.

Silent Moves 2016

Chess is a game between two powerful minds. Unlike the rest of indoor games it improves the ability of prediction before danger. It teaches about the life, life is like a game of chess, changing with each move.

Silent Move 2016 was a place for the Chess players island wide. UoM Leos organized a Chess tournament for the players seeking the challenges. Leo Club of Nawala Metro and Leo Club of University of Kelaniya also contributed in organizing the event on 25th March at the University premises of Moratuwa. Multiple district president Leo Dumindu Jayakody and Multiple District Vice President Leo Rajitha Abegunasekara added colour to the event with their presence. The tournament was held all over the day and ended up with finding out the best players or the worriers of the mind battle. With bunch of experiences the event was successfully concluded by UoM Leos with the contribution of the Leos of the District 306 A2.

The game Chess let us to think in broader manner, simply Chess board is the world, the pieces are the phenomena of the universe, the rules of the game are what we call law of nature and the player on the other side is hidden from us as always....  

Mahesh Abeywickrama Memorial Debating Competition 2016

Dani Reynolds once said,

“Intellectuals can debate. Idiots just argue.”

Mahesh Abeywickrama Memorial Inter School Debating Competition 2016 was an event where this saying was nicely proven. 

Every year Leo Club of University of Moratuwa organize the Mahesh Abewickrama Memorial Interschool debating competition in the university premises in memory of the past president in leoistic year 2004/2005 Mahesh Abewickrama, who left us at an unexpected time. He was a beloved brother, an undergraduate of University of Moratuwa and especially an initial member of Leo club of UoM who has done a great service towards the betterment of the club.

For the consecutive 4^th time Mahesh Abeywickrama Memorial Inter School Debating Competition 2016 was successfully held on 26^th of March 2016 at University Premises with the participation of 12 leading schools in western province.

 From the first round onwards it was a tough game between every team. Bright curious eyes of the audience were staring at the stage eagerly waiting to know the semifinalists and the finalists of the competition. D.S. Senanayake College, Gothami Balika Vidyalaya, Royal College and Ladies College made the ambience of the audience very tensed in the semifinals. Breaking the tension of the audience Gothami Balika Vidyalaya and D.S. Senanayake College got through to the finals.

The most exciting things happen towards the end of a competition with the people deserving the victory getting the glory. The same was true for Mahesh Abeywickrama Debatinig Competition. Filling the audience with more and more thrill and will D.S.Senanayaka College became the champions of this year’s Mahesh Abeywickrama Memorial Inter School Debating Competition.

To grace this occasion, Leo Pramod Wimalathunga, District President, 306 A2 marked his presence as the Chief Guest and Mr. Hasitha Wijesundara, Attorney at Law and Founder member and Current President of “Sasnaka Sansada” marked his presence as the guest of honor.

Leo Youth Camp’16

When I utter the words “Leo Youth Camp’16” so many wonderful cherished memories flood my mind. Someone once said that “Don’t you think now is the time to be adventurous while we’re still young”. Leo Youth Camp’16 of 306 A2 was such an adventurous wonderful experience. It was successfully conducted at Diyathalawa Military Base on last 26^th 27^th and 28^th with the participation of more than 100 Leos.

From the beginning the experience we gained was amazing. On the first day after the opening ceremony all the Leos were divided into 10 groups and all the tasks done at the camp was according to these assigned groups. During the evening there was a weapon show at the MSTS where we had so much excitement getting exposed to real time weapons. During the night there was a small talent show and the Leo parliament was a novel experience for most of the participants and the day was ended with so much laughter with it. The next day was a day to remember for I think almost every participant because it was the day for hiking. Trekking through the wild, getting ourselves bruised, the team bond, exploring new paths, facing challenging tasks and many more novel experiences. We spent nearly 6 hours hiking and in the end we had to make our lunch. A tiring day was ended with a marvelous camp fire in the freezing breeze near Fox hill super cross racing field. Each and every day was filled with excitement and adventure. The last day at the camp started with obstacle clearance. Every one of us felt like we were training to be soldiers crawling under the barbed wires, jumping over 9” walls. The team spirit, leadership skills, fearlessness to face any risk, determination towards winning everything was boosted up in each and every individual. After that we got the great opportunity to have first-hand and most probably once in life time experience in aerial rope, rock climbing and many more. The last scheduled event consisted of a collection of more team spirit building games. At the end every one of us learnt how to work in a team, how much we have to contribute for the sake of the team, what is our role in the team and how to cope up with others. So the 3 days ended with building good motivated determined highly spirited leaders within the Leos. Special thanks must go to the DP Leo Pramod Wimalathunga, the camp chairman Leo Lion Kalindu Dissanayake, DCL Lion Thulitha Piyasena, memorable hike organizers Leo Dineth Saranga and Leo Sachintha Suranda and all the organizers who were the backbones of this successful event and finally Sri Lankan Military Academy Diyathalawa and Volunteer Force Training School Diyathalawa for giving us one remarkable training for 3 days.