Look back

We followed our Personal Progress Development subject during last two years.Unlike other lectures I was able to learn so many valuable things to make my life better. We had in class activities, Out door activities, out bound training programs, out side visits, visiting lectures and etc.

I would like to state most valuable things that I learn from these sessions.

• Work-Life Balance 
• Time Management   
• Active Listening
• Self-Confidence     
• Communication Skills    
• Emotional Intelligence       
• Leadership              
• Problem-Solving Ability  
• Organizing
• Body Language
• Help mind
• Make bloggers

Thank you Sarasi madam to invest your valuable time to us, thank you again!   

Out Bound Training Program

On the 9th and 10th ,we (first year and second year students of Software Engineering) went to Outbounding training to Trincomalee Navy camp with the guidance of 3 lecturers including our Sarasi madam.

Day 1:
We started our journey at early morning 3.30 am in our university.We had two buses for our journey. We get some enjoyable time with our friends. When we reached Kandalai tank and stopped our bus then we took some photos.

Then we again continue our travel and nearly at 10.30 am we reached the Navy Camp.Then,the guidance for this session(Navy army) gave boarding house to us for stay those 2 days.Then they gave time to get ready. Then we got ready and took our lunch there. After that our training activities were started.Before start activities,we were separated into four groups.I was in the third group "CHARLIE".Then we were asked to select 8 persons from each group.

ACTIVITY 1:Pass the bamboo square
We were asked to select 8 members from each group and  go into the square without touching and if any part of our body touched the square then we were out and once again start  from the first. This is the first activity and we did it with much more interestingly and happily. Then an officer told us the plus and the minus of our group and he especially mentioned that our team wasn't had a unique leader and every body take the leadership and that was the big mistake we did and very quickly we understand our mistake and appointed a leader for the next activity.

ACTIVITY 2:Pipeline
We had to select 8 to play and one to give instructions for this activity.They gave small PVC plastic and the leader(Dilusha) stay front and wants to put the marble into the first person's PVC when the marble touch the PVC only the next person wants to touch his PVC with the other one's. like wise the group wants to pass the marble to the boundary line. We did it nicely and finished game within 5 minutes.

ACTIVITY 3:Fill up cylindrical pipe by water
This was also wonderful activity we enjoyed a lot.We were given a  cylindrical pipe with hollows around it and non covered in the bottom.We had to fill the pipe quickly by using our hands and our mouth. So to make the bottom covered ,we made Chirantha to lay down and kept the tube above him.Then we ran to the beach and collected water and filled it.We filled the tube in just two minutes.

ACTIVITY 4:Block Train
They gave us bricks and each of every one wants to keep the brick in their stomach and  the person who in front wants to keep that brick without falling down by pushing it with his back and also  every one should  keep their hands on the back side of the head. Then the group asked to move to the boundary line which was kept by the officers without letting  down any bricks if any brick fall down then the team should  start from the beginning. We do this activity successfully.

ACTIVITY 5:Different volleyball game
This activity is like a volleyball but we can't use our hands. So what happened was every group formed their group into three parts with 6 member for each and one of the person wants to stay the other side to catch the ball. the other five wants to stay the other side and four of them wants to hold a cloth like a rubber sheet and the other one wants to keep the volley ball onto the rubber sheet and lead the team and the team wanted to throw the ball using that cloth to the other side and the person who stand on the other side wanted to catch the ball. if it happened correctly then the team will get 1 points. Every group got 15 chances to try it and we team Charlie got 2 points.

ACTIVITY 6:Tug of war
Next activity time for a serious game and now we wanted to take participate in tough of war. So its nothing to say the rules that every one know it and we first tried very very hard. But unfortunately, we lost the first match. Then every one were tired a lot.

Finally we finished all the tough activities of the day and we all returned to our rest rooms and got ready for the dinner party with a formal dress and nearly at 6:00 pm we backed to the same place where we spend the day and this time it decorated with lights and then we all it means every group did two programs and we did a small drama and a group song and also we had a fire camp also there and everyone enjoy in DJ.

DAY 2:
Then we got ready and took our breakfast at about 7.30 which was arranged by the navy officers.
After that we were again divided into groups for the adventurous activity.

ACTIVITY 7:Compass march
We had a map and a compass and we asked to reached the elephant point by using the map and the compass and its 2.5 km distance.so first the officers taught us how to use the compass and they came for support us.Then we started to  move toward our destination with our team. When we was walking suddenly we saw a man who was severely injured ( acting as injured ) and then four members of our team went to save him. Rest of us said to them to make any signal after reach. But,they not make any signal and we don't go to saw them.Then the officer who acted was got up and pointed our mistakes which we did and then we continued our journey walking through the little forest. We had to be careful and watch our moves and also we had to hold ourselves with our team to avoid missing the path. And finally we reached the destination and had a good time there  and relaxed for a while.

After the relaxation we walked to the Naval museum and saw different types of submarines and parts of the submarines,boats,ships and also many guns and shells ,medical kits.

Finally after watched the museum we went to Sniper training center and had our lunch their and thanks the officer for their dedications for us and finally we nearly at 3:30 pm we took bus to university and danced for songs in bus  then at 10:30 pm we reached our university with some unique memories and experiences

Officers , Soldiers in the naval base helped  us a lot. They all treated us in a good manner. We enjoyed a lot.They dedicated their time and effort for us even in a  busy schedule. We were very happy to join with them to celebrate their 67th anniversary.

We gain lots of things, we were able to learn good things. We improved lots of qualities. We were very thankful for them and the miss Sarasi for organizing such a marvelous event.

Table Ethics session

December 21, 2017
As an undergraduate of Software Engineering degree program, in near future we have to spend a professional life.So we will be able to participate into conferences, clients meetings, top board meetings, professional parties and etc.  So we have to learn on how to sit for a dinner/ lunch, how to behave in a table, how to wear professional dress code for office and parties. In some times it is a puzzle to select suitable dress code for a party.

For this session madam made lot of plans  but finally  we plan to go Srilanka Institute Of Tourism and Hotel Management School  because of the time & money issues. we divide our batch as two teams & i was in the second team our team plan to go on 15th of November.

First we had a session about Dressing & behavioral approaches. He told us how to wish someone in different situations,space between two persons when they talk & speaking manners in group. The next part he talked about life morals and values negative thoughts, don't care attitude always bad for our life, when we post something in social medias we should remind that the this world watching us.
Next, he told about how want to handshake with others in professional meetings.

We learn new things like, how to sit correctly, The outside rule, how to use the given napkin, ways that can tell how was the meal by placing knife and forks in right position.

Seating etiquette
 The guest of honor should sit in the best seat at the table. Usually that is one with the back of the chair to the wall. Once the guest of honor's seat is determined, the host should sit to her left. Other people are then offered seats around the table.

Napkin etiquette
At informal meals, place the napkin in your lap immediately upon seating. During formal occasions, before unfolding the napkin, wait for the hostess to remove her napkin from the table and unfold it in her lap.

1. Place the napkin in your lap upon seating.
2. When leaving the table temporarily, put the napkin on your chair.
3. At the meal's end, fold your napkin and place it to the left of your place setting.

The Table setting

To determine which utensil to use first, follow the "outside-in rule" --- use utensils on the outside first and work your way inward.

Food service etiquette
For dinners where food is served at the table, the dishes should be passed in a counter-clockwise flow. Never reach across the table for anything. Instead, ask that condiments be passed from the person closest to the item. Salt and pepper should be passed together. Always use serving utensils and not your own to lift food from the serving dish.

Passing food etiquette
Pass to the right (if the item is not being passed to a specific person). One diner either holds the dish as the next diner takes some food, or he hands it to the person, who then serves herself. Any heavy or awkward dishes are put on the table with each pass.

Bread passing passing etiquette

1. If the loaf is not cut, cut a few pieces, offer them to the person to your left, and then pass the basket to your right.
2. Do not touch the loaf with your fingers, instead use the clothe in the bread basket as a buffer to steady the bread as you slice it.
3. Place the bread and butter on your butter plate - yours is on your left - then break off a bite sized piece of bread, put a little butter on it, and eat it.

When to start eating
At a small table of only two to four people, wait until everyone else has been served before starting to eat. At a formal or business meal, you should either wait until everyone is served to start or begin when the host asks you to.

The next session is our lunch.They prepared special menu for us, our table waiter introduce her self and tell about our menu.

So the facts we learnt here definitely will be help us  in always to  behave in smart way in the society.                                                                                                                                                       

Latest software engineering trends

As future software Engineers we had a very valuable lecture from Industry. A HR manager and the Technical leader who were from hSendid Mobile company had organized a lecture for us a discussion about Software Industry and what are the new software trends in Industry.

First HR manager gave short description about hSenid Mobile and their services to the industry.
Then Technical leader starts the cord session how to use important tricks as software engineers and what will important when we work in industry.  And,discuss about these things

IOT (Internet Of Things)

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a system of interrelated computing devices, mechanical and digital machines, objects, animals or people that are provided with unique identifiers and the ability to transfer data over a network without requiring human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction.

Machine Learning

Machine learning is a field of computer science that gives computers the ability to learn without being explicitly programmed. Machine learning is closely related to (and often overlaps with) computational statistics, which also focuses on prediction-making through the use of computers. It has strong ties to mathematical optimization, which delivers methods, theory and application domains to the field. Machine learning is sometimes conflated with data mining, where the latter sub field focuses more on exploratory data analysis and is known as unsupervised learning.Machine learning can also be unsupervised and be used to learn and establish baseline behavioral profiles for various entities and then used to find meaningful anomalies.

Cloud Computing

Cloud computing, often referred to as simply “the cloud,” is the delivery of on-demand computing resources — everything from applications to data centers — over the internet on a pay-for-use basis.

• Elastic resources — Scale up or down quickly and easily to meet demand
• Metered service so you only pay for what you use
• Self service — All the IT resources you need with self-service access     

Open Source Software

Open-source software (OSS) is computer software with its source code made available with a license in which the copyright holder provides the rights to study, change, and distribute the software to anyone and for any purpose. Open-source software may be developed in a collaborative public manner. According to scientists who studied it, open-source software is a prominent example of open collaboration. The term is often written without a hyphen as "open source software".

Art of living

THE ART OF LIVING By Ajith Rohana Colonne B.Sc., MBA, M.A.(Econ)

Three purpose of life

• Happiness
• Success
• Enjoyment

Happiness

1.  Eat outdoors – Whether you plan a full-fledged picnic, eat your take-out on a park bench, or just enjoy your morning coffee in your backyard (or on your fire escape, for city dwellers) take a break and appreciate your meal outside.
2. Make a list of all the outdoor activities you want to do this year. From camping to whitewater rafting, snowboarding, jet skiing… the sky’s the limit. (What about skydiving?) Write a list of all the things you want to do outside this year, organized by season. Then start this weekend with the first weather-appropriate activity on your list.
3. Join a sports league – Nothing keeps you committed to spending time outdoors than joining a league where they count on your participation week after week. Can’t find a team you like? Try convincing your human resources department to start an office softball game, or organize one yourself with friends.
4. Work outside – Speaking of work, are you feeling blocked there? It could be the early signs of spring fever, but I have a guaranteed trick to break yourself of those distracted feelings and be more “in the moment” at work so you can get more done.
5. Plant flowers – In most places the ground barely had a chance to freeze this year, so you can get a jump on planting season by planting flowers in your yard. If you’re still concerned about cold overnight temps, plant them in planters that you can bring indoors at night.
6. Visit someplace close by, but unusual – Chances are, wherever you live, you have some outdoor tourist attractions that the locals never take time to visit. Skip work for the day or rearrange your schedule and take a mid-day trip to that place to avoid the weekend tourist crowds. Or, look up local parks and outdoor activities within 50 miles of your home and take a day trip. You’ll return rested, rejuvenated and ready to face anything that comes your way.
7. Invite neighbors over for a fire and a night of stargazing – Begin the night with a nice dinner of locally-grown foods, and, as the sun sets, if local ordinances permit it, light a fire and begin roasting marshmallows. There’s something about an outdoor fire that says “instant vacation.” Take time to appreciate the scent, the concentrated warmth, and the stars above your head.

Success

1. Think big
2. Find what you love to do and do it
3. Learn how to balance life
4. Do not be afraid of failure
5. Have an unwavering resolution to succeed
6. Be a man of action
7. Avoid conflicts
8. Don’t be afraid of introducing new ideas
9. Believe in your capacity to succeed
10. Always maintain a positive mental attitude
11. Don’t let discouragement stop you from pressing on
12. Be willing to work hard
13. Be brave enough to follow your intuition

At last of the session we take a photo with him

The Beauty of University of Kelaniya

University Of Kelaniya

The University of Kelaniya has its origin in the historic Vidyalankara Pirivena, founded in 1875 by Ratmalane Sri Dharmaloka Thera as a centre of learning for Buddhist monks.

With the establishment of modern Universities in Sri Lanka in the 1940s and 1950s, the Vidyalankara Pirivena became the Vidyalankara University in 1959, later the Vidyalankara Campus of the University of Ceylon in 1972 and, ultimately, the University of Kelaniya in 1978.

Today, the University of Kelaniya is one of the major national Universities. It is located just outside the municipal limits of Colombo, in the ancient and historic city of Kelaniya, on the north bank of the Kelani River. It has two major campuses, seven locations, six faculties and four institutions.

The University of Kelaniya has pioneered a number of new developments in higher education. It was one of the first universities to begin teaching science in Sinhala and the first to restructure the traditional Arts Faculty into three faculties: Humanities, Social Sciences, and Commerce and Management.

Main Ground

When you are coming to university from main road. First thing you will notice is the main ground. Because it’s beautiful as well as very large.

Thal Wheta(A line of Palmira trees)

Giving the shade to anyone coming university, it is hailing through decades. Situated at the entrance of the faculty of science. Most of undergraduates are having sweet memories here.

The popular it gaha

It is a great relief for everyone coming to it center. Even to spend their leisure, students come to this place. The huge and spread tree helps everyone and it is adding an unique beauty to the university

My Dream Trip

There are many places in the world, that I want see in my life. And I want to travel in that places. I narrowed it down to my top four places I would like to travel. My dream is to go to Madrid, Paris, Rome.

The first place is Madrid. Madrid is located in the midpoint of Spain, the capital, Madrid has always been a place that represents all of Spain’s regions. Just as famous for flamenco dancing as Seville and as famous for Cathedrals as Andalusia, I will see that amazing cultural dance.When I visit Madrid, I will see well-renowned art, plazas and shops, some of the oldest and finest restaurants, and a lively nightlife.Surely, the city that never sleeps, and provides a perfect culture-rich week.
And although Madrid is home to a truly outstanding architectural heritage, there is no question that its greatest artistic wealth is to be found in its art galleries.


The city of lights’, ‘the city of Romance’, ‘the culinary capital of the world’, all these are just names Paris, France is known by. Over seven million people visit each year. Paris, France is one of the most amazing places you will ever visit. I will see so many phenomenal things to see and do will never get bored. The most Prominent landmark in Paris would have to be the Eiffel Tower. I will visit the Eiffel Tower and view the city from the top is spectacular. Then, I will go to "The Louvre" museum. Outside the museum is a substantial glass pyramid. Inside there are heaps exhibits including artifacts from Egypt, Greece, and Rome. I will see The Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci that was displayed there.


Next, I will visit Rome. First, I will see the Colosseum, an ancient Roman arena where they pitted
criminals to fight to the death against anything from fierce creatures to Roman Soldiers.Next, I will see Vatican City, which is where the pope lives. That’s right the Pope has his own city. It is only 0.29 square miles and has a population of about 129 people. In Vatican City there is also a thing called Saint Peter’s basilica. We were fortunate to see it, it is the most famous basilica in all of the world. At final, I will see the Sistine Chapel, a chapel which on the ceiling contains a very famous painting of the Creation of Man by Michelangelo.

I get excited just thinking about all the travel worthy places out there and I hope I get the opportunity to travel to these fascinating places. There are endless possibilities when it comes to traveling.

Welcome with new PPD Section

Expert Game & Pen Thread Game

In 11th July 2017 on ppd section, madam introduced two new amazing games, Expert Games & Pen Thread Games.  

Expert Game

The class was grouped into 5 team with 6 members. After that, each group selected 3 members and that 3 members want to found their expert area.
Those areas are not match with each others.

1. In one group, there was experts in Design, Vehicle & Mathematics . Then they start  ROBOT CAR  BUSINESS. 
2. An other group,there was experts in Business, IT & Designing.They had create DEVSPACE.LK .
3. Another group had cooking,cricket & riding bikes.They had design a plan to FCD deliver food to the international cricket matches. That was  amazing plans.
4. Another group was experts in food ,football & business.so they came up with CFB(chicken handy for football players as a business ).

From that game, we have learnt,

1. How work with the group members
2. How to improve the leadership skill
3. How to improve the presentation skill
4. How to find our own expertise
5. How to improve creativity things

Pen and Thread Game

This game was a fun and creativity type of game. In this game, again the class group into 3 team with 9 members. And, they were given 30cm long thread, a pen, a paper.

In this game, every group wanted to write a word without touch paper and pen by hand. For that, we want to use thread. Then every team used thread to tough the pen .Thread divide into part and tided them top ,bottom,and middle of the pen. After that  every one take a parts of thread and wrote the word.

From that game, we have learnt,

1. How work with the group members
2. How to make an idea on under pressure
3. How to improve the leadership skill
4. How to improve a skill to listen others carefully
5. How to improve creativity things

                            

BARTER PUZZLE

            In every PPD session we make new different activities and learn new things.In 4 July, Madam came with new activity BARTER PUZZLE. First madam divide our class in to four groups. Then, select a leader, sub leader  from each group and she call leader and sub leader. Madam gave a task to them, that they have to cut a A3 size picture in to 75 pieces, in   this pieces include 10 square pieces and others can get any design . Our team leader and sub  leader made that task successfully.

          Then madam give next task that is we have to arrange the cutting papers like a barter puzzle [these cutting papers are not what we are cutting, it was from other groups].There is strategy also, madam mixed some 5/6 cuttings from other group.

            The goal is to complete their puzzle before the other groups, they must come up with their method on convincing the other teams to relinquish the pieces they need, whether  through barter, exchange of team members, donating time to another team, a merge etc.  Whatever they choose to do,  they must do it as a group.

   PURPOSE:

        This exercise is time consuming, but it accomplished creative team work on several level. As a team, they must find a way to convince the other teams to help them. In the other  words, they must solve both the puzzle and the problem of getting their pieces again. 

   Finally:

        We cannot finished the puzzle, but we was second group, that finished than other  groups. Because, we only left 3 pieces and we had extra 3 pieces of other groups puzzles.

“Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.” ~ Carl Gustav Jung

What is?

Personal Progress Development covers activities that improve awareness and identity, develop talents and potential, build human capital and facilitate employ ability, enhance the quality of life and contribute to the realization of dreams and aspirations. Personal development takes place over the course of a person's entire life.Not limited to self-help, the concept involves formal and informal activities for developing others in roles such as teacher, guide, counselor, manager, life coach or mentor. When personal development takes place in the context of institutions, it refers to the methods, programs, tools, techniques, and assessment systems that support human development at the individual level in organizations.

Why is Important?

There are many ideas surrounding personal development, one of which is Abraham Maslow's process of self-actualization.

Self-Actualization

Maslow (1970) suggests that all individuals have an in-built need for personal development which occurs through a process called self-actualization.

Managing Your Personal Development

There are a number of steps to take in managing your personal development.

1. Developing a Personal Vision

Personal development can simply be for fun. Most of us, however, find it easier to motivate ourselves to learn and improve if we have a purpose in doing so. Developing your personal vision - a clear idea of where you want to be in a few months or years, and why - is a crucial part of developing this purpose.

2. Planning Your Personal Development

Once you are clear about where you want to be, you can start planning how to get there. Drawing up a personal development plan is not essential, but it does make the planning process more realistic.

3. Starting the Improvement Process

There are a number of different ways in which you can learn and develop.

4. Recording Your Personal Development

It is often a good idea to keep a record of your personal development. By writing down key developments in your learning and development as and when they occur, you will be able to reflect on your successes at a later date.

This reflection may well help to motivate you to learn more skills in the future. Try keeping a learning log or journal as you develop your skills and knowledge.

5. Reviewing and Revising Personal Development Plans

 Regular review of your personal development plans, and your development activities, will ensure that you learn from what you have done. It will also ensure that your activities continue to move you towards your goals, and that your goals or vision remain relevant to you.

Personality Development Benefits

1.Stress-free and healthier life
2.Better decision making ability
3.Enhanced confidence level
4.A more pleasing personality