Two promising Mechatronics Engineering students, Rovindu Tharin and Amithnal Herath from Curtin University Colombo was selected to represent Sri Lanka’s emerging talent pool at the prestigious ‘Sahasak Nimavum 2025’ National Inventions and Innovations Exhibition and Competition.
The event, organized by the Sri Lanka Inventors Commission under the Ministry of Science and Technology, was held from 25th to 27th April, 2025, at the BMICH, Colombo.
The students’ projects have demonstrated brilliant ingenuity in tackling pressing global challenges through innovative engineering solutions.
These achievements highlight the quality of education and research capabilities being developed at Curtin University Colombo, shedding light on how Sri Lankan students are creating solutions with global applicability and addressing critical challenges in renewable energy and assistive technology sectors.
The innovations from these students captures the kind of forward-thinking approaches needed to address complex global challenges while positioning Sri Lanka as an emerging hub for technological innovation in South Asia.
Rovindu Tharin, a second-year Mechatronics Engineering student, has developed ‘LightSwap’ – an innovative apparatus designed to increase solar energy harvest in unavoidable shading conditions. The patent-pending innovation (LK/P/1/23409) addresses one of the biggest challenges in the solar energy industry of power reduction due to shading, particularly in building-integrated PV and balcony solar panels.
The innovation works through ‘swapping light’ – capturing solar radiation using collectors and transferring it to shaded panels via optical fibres. This not only recovers a significant portion of energy that would otherwise be lost but also helps prevent hot spot accumulation in solar panels, which can cause damage over time. This could be particularly beneficial for urban settings where space limitations and architectural constraints often result in partial shading of solar installations.
Amithnal Herath, a final-year Mechatronics Engineering student, has created ‘SMARTNAV’ – an autonomous wheelchair system that integrates obstacle avoidance, mapping, and localization with Electrooculography (EOG) technology and 3D camera capabilities.
The cutting-edge system addresses significant challenges individuals with severe motor impairments face by providing intuitive, non-limb-dependent control mechanisms. SMARTNAV combines Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) for real-time obstacle avoidance with EOG technology for eye-controlled navigation, allowing users to control the wheelchair through eye movements while ensuring safe and efficient movement through complex environments. The system has already received recognition as a Regional Finalist in the Curtin University Global Pitching Competition 2024, highlighting its potential impact and innovation.
Both projects were exhibited at the ‘Sahasak Nimavum 2025’ competition, with Tharin also earning First Place in the North Colombo Provincial section of the IEEE Innovation Nation Sri Lanka 2024 and recognition as an Idea Stage Finalist among the Top 12 All Provincials.
‘Sahasak Nimavum 2025’ is the first physical exhibition since the COVID-19 pandemic and will feature both local and international participants. The event serves as a vital platform for innovators to showcase their creations and connect with potential investors and industry partners.
