November 05, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka has taken a significant step towards promoting science, technology and creative problem-solving among schoolchildren with the establishment of its first Tinkering Lab at Colombo’s Nalanda College.
The facility has been set up through a collaborative initiative involving Hemas Holdings, Nalanda College and India’s Atal Innovation Mission, with the aim of giving students practical opportunities to explore technology, experiment with new concepts and turn their ideas into working inventions.
Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha announced the development in a post on X, describing the initiative as an important opportunity to strengthen the country’s innovation culture and encourage young minds to pursue technological creativity.
The opening ceremony brought together several prominent figures, including Nalanda College Principal U.D. Iran Champika, Hemas Holdings Group Chief Executive Officer Ashish Chandra and former Sri Lankan cricketer and distinguished Nalanda alumnus Mahela Jayawardene.
Speaking about the initiative, Jha drew attention to India’s experience in developing a strong foundation for innovation within its school education system. He noted that more than 10,000 Tinkering Labs have already been established across the country, reaching students in major urban centres as well as smaller towns.
These facilities have provided young people with opportunities to move beyond traditional classroom learning and develop practical solutions to everyday problems. Among the innovations produced by Indian students are automated irrigation systems designed to improve water management and smart walking canes intended to assist visually impaired people.
The High Commissioner expressed optimism that the new facility in Sri Lanka would offer similar opportunities to local students, allowing them to explore their interests, experiment with emerging technologies, build prototypes and transform promising concepts into useful products.
He also voiced confidence that the programme could help nurture a new generation of Sri Lankan innovators capable of developing solutions with applications beyond the country’s borders and potentially competing in international markets.
Jha congratulated Hemas Holdings and Nalanda College for joining forces to establish the facility, while also acknowledging the contribution of India’s Atal Innovation Mission in bringing the project to fruition.
The establishment of the Tinkering Lab is expected to provide students with a valuable platform to develop technical skills, independent thinking and an inventive mindset, helping bridge the gap between academic knowledge and real-world technological applications.
