Colombo MBA Alumni Association conducted
an evening discussion with Vidya Jyothi Dr. Ray Wijewardena on the topic of "So you also took a business degree? " at the Ceylon Continental
Hotel on 10th May 2007. About 40 persons participated for the event which was mainly targeted for CMBAAA members, however since programme was open for public, few from
general public too attended the programme.
Vidya Jyothi Dr.
Ray Wijewardena is indeed an innovator and inventor par
excellence. His accomplishments in the sphere of engineering are almost unparalleled
among his countrymen. Dr. Ray Wijewardena was conferred the title of Vidya Jyothi in
19 8 8 and an honorary degree of Doctor of Science from the University
of Moratuwa in 1994 in recognition of his contributions to Science and Technology.
He discussed about
the importance of learning management and related his experiences at Harvard,
counting as mentors and friends, Buckminster Fuller, Edward De Bono and Burt Rutan. He
then related his experiences in farming and asked the audience why farmers plough their land? Many farmers do it without
knowing the actual reason. The actual reason for plouging is to weed control, he said.
By popular demand he explained how he manufactured 10 air planes and two helicopters at his garage and showed video
footages of various stages of manufacturing and flying them. He suggested that sending helium filled balloons is one option
to protect important installations from enemy air planes.
Evening discussion
was followed by cocktails at the Ceylon Continental Hotel. The entire programme
including cocktails was free for CMBAAA members. President of CMBAAA, Rohan Seneviratne and Executive Committee member Chris Corea took the burden of organizing this event.