GNU/Linux Teaching Camp in Rartnapura

We had planned a sudden GNU/Linux teaching camp in Ruwanpura National Teacher's Training College last 6th and 7th. Suchetha and I left Colombo about 2000 hrs. we got to the place around 2330 hrs. When we got there Bikku Mettavihari and a few guyz had already got down to the business. They'd put Ubuntu and Edubuntu into 45 computers. Thanx to organizers, what a cosy place to stay overnight, we found!

The event was a success. Nearly 150 trainee teachers took part in it. I was to do a presentation on Introduction to GNU/Linux. That crazy guy Suchetha snatched off half of my time. The whole day we taught GNU/Linux. The day ended nicely with a few discussions with cute ladies. In the eveining we enjoyed a few movies, beers and had a chat. The second day was a success too.

The Software Freedom Day 2007

Software Freedom Day is a global, grassroots effort to educate the public about the importance of software freedom and the virtues and availability of Free and Open Source Software. Local teams from all over the world organise events on the third Saturday in September. The most recent event involved over 200 teams from all over the world.

We had lots of plans in this SFD. There was many FOSS events around the country. Colombo,Kandy and downsouth events were big events among them. Dassa and I took over the organizing part of Matara event. We planned that event with collaboration of university of Ruhuna. The head, department of computer science Mr. Aruna gave a big help giving their resources to the event.

We have planned to go to Matara in the 13th evening. Collected our money from LSF in the morning. But we had one big prob. There was Tsunami warning all over the country. We had to change our plans due to the Tsunami warning. Then we decided to go to Matara early in the 14th morning. We took a cab 6 in the morning and left colombo. Reached Matara at about 11. the street promotion was going on at that time. They had prepared a nice place for us to crash that night down. The university circuit bungalow. Its located in a nice place facing the sea. What a beutiful view. Then we decided to go out for lunch. We went to chuti akka's place and had our lunch. After a litle talk we left there and had a little walk in matara town. I had to meet some one there and we wait few hours. Visited the temple in the town which is located few yards toward the sea. Suchetha came from colombo and had dinner and beers, came back to the lab.

The event was very successful. There were about 500 heads. After the event we left Matara at about 5.30. We had to be in Excel World coz there was closing ceremony taking place there. We were there just in time. was a nice karoke. Suchetha and Dassa shout for few tracks.