"The Gavelier" - 11th Issue

11TH ISSUE

11.12.2023

THE GAVELIER GAVEL CCS MAGAZINE

WITH "THE REMARKABLE"

KNOW YOUR EXCO

ISIWARA RATHNAYAKE

THE DELUXE EDITION

TÊTE Â TÊTE

CROSSWORD OR

ANAGRAM?

QUIT INDIA! DO OR DIE!

Don’t miss a single issue Subscribe now to The Gavelier:

"Come along catch a Heffalump Sit with me on a muddy clump We'll sing a song of days gone by Run along now don't be glum Get you gone now have some fun Don't be long for the end is nigh Don't let moments pass along And waste before your eyes March with me and the borogoves Come with me and the slithy toves And never ask us why Come, come, come, come, come along now Run away from the hum-drum We'll go to a place that is safe from Greed, anger and boredom We'll dance and sing 'til sundown And feast with abandon We'll sleep when the morning comes And we'll rise by the sound of the birdsongs"

Come Along A song by Cosmo Sheldrake

Inside this issue...

TAKING THE LEAD...

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Messages from the leadership

BRANCHING OUT

SPEECHES THAT CHANGED THE WORLD Unravelling iconic historical oratory

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TÊTE-À-TÊTE

The Groundbreaking Gene editing Technique

A conversation with the remarkable Isiwara Rathnayake

KNOW YOUR EXCO

GUEST SPOTLIGHT

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You know them. But do you, really?

RIDDLECULOUS Deem, no diddle. Solve the riddle.

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11

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Exploration of minds beyond CCS

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CROSSWORD Leave no squares bare

FIND YOUR CONFIDENCE DO YOU CRAVE TO BECOME A BETTER LEADER? A BETTER COMMUNICATOR?

JOIN GAVEL CCS TODAY! Contact us to get started on your gavel journey at gavelccs@gmail.com

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Inside this issue...

BEST OF ALL

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23

Catch up on what happened at Gavel CCS

PARTING ROSE A short story

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Same letters, not-so-same words

A sneak peek at entertainment's finest

NEWS CORNER

ANAGRAM

EVALUATION TIPS

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Tips to speak the mind of the audience - The Grand Finale

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CREATIVE CORNER Where the creativity flows like water

DISCOVER YOURSELF DO YOU CRAVE TO BECOME A BETTER LEADER? A BETTER COMMUNICATOR?

JOIN GAVEL CCS TODAY! Contact us to get started on your gavel journey at gavelccs@gmail.com

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MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Hello readers!

It is my genuine pleasure to write a few words for the latest issue of the Gavelier as the president of the Gavel Club of the College of Chemical Sciences. As a proud product of Gavel CCS, I would describe the Gavel Club as a place where any individual, from whatever background, can come together to explore their true potential. A truly diverse community, brimming at the seams with talent and a level of comradery I have rarely seen elsewhere.

It is on such a background that the club has enjoyed its short but rich history, with many talented executive committees that have continued to carry this club to new heights. As is with many endeavors, the past year has been a tough one for the club as we began to re-orient ourselves with holding physical meetings and getting back to the status quo of conducting all gavel activities on a physical platform.

However, as prefaced at the beginning of my message, the CCS gavel community has, and always will rise to the occasion. With a dedicated and talented executive team, I believe we have managed to steer the club back on course. It is with much optimism that we envision the future of this club, as talented new members continue to join the Gavel CCS community, showing off a very bright future for the next generation of Gavel CCS. As we move forward, I would like to encourage each of you to continue to test your limits and take advantage of every opportunity Gavel has to offer. It may be the simple act of taking up a position as a role player in an educational meeting, just make sure you manage to get something out of it to improve yourself.

Thank you all for your continued dedication to this club. It has been a true pleasure to serve as the president for this club and I look forward to seeing what the next generation will accomplish. Viva La Gavel!

Gav. Sanuga Nanayakkara Club President 2022/23 Gavel Club of CCS

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MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF "Don't worry, you're just as sane as I am" - Luna Lovegood, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

How many times a day do you think it is okay to do something, simply because it might feel a little weird to do? How many times a day do we stop our eyes from shining bright with curiosity and enthusiasm at the simplest yet most magical things that are all around us because it may seem childlike, for apparently, we are "adults"? Are we, actually? Or do we not have time to let the inner child within us live and prosper because of the endless, breathless race we're running every day?

It is to find an answer to these questions, that we, at the Gavel Club of CCS provide a platform in our educational meetings to improve your public speaking and leadership skills and to speak your heart out, as well as in here, "The Gavelier", where you can write your heart out as far as your creativity runs, and as magically and imaginatively as one can be.

As believers of magic ourselves (the sort of magic that you find in raindrops on roses and whiskers of kittens), it is the greatest honor of the Board of Editors to help you pause that breathless running race for a while, dream with your eyes wide open, let your soul live through our content and make your journey of life a little more adventurous. Whilst we do that, we also welcome and encourage all you readers to reach out to us with your extraordinary musings and hold hands with us in this journey of nurturing the minds with knowledge, wisdom, and magic.

Finally, as Friedrich Nietzsche once said, "And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music," let us be those who not only hear the music but create music by ourselves and dance to it till the sun goes down, or even better, till the sun rise up again. That is, at the end of the day, what Gavel is all about.

Be yourself, unapologetically.

Viva La Gavel!

Gav. Amali Nelunika Vice President of Education (22/23) Gavel Club of CCS

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The Speech that Marked the Turning Point in India's Struggle for Independence Our nearest neighbour India has a rich and storied history. From being one of the first sites of human civilization to the site of numerous empires and kingdoms and finally to being the world’s largest democracy. An important event in India’s history is its colonial past. For more than 200 years it was subjected to colonial rule by the British East India Company and after the Indian Rebellion of 1857, under direct control of the Crown. The British Raj exploited the Indian subcontinent to further their development and it was said that the potential and wealth of India were so immense, India gained the title as the ‘Jewel in the Crown’ of the British Empire. The Crown would loathe to give up such an important part of their empire, yet India successfully gained its independence on the 15th of August, 1947. A vast number of people contributed to this historical undertaking, but one name has risen above all in the fight for India’s independence - Mahatma Gandhi.

Quit India, Do or Die In the annals of India's freedom struggle, Mahatma Gandhi's “Quit India” speech stands as a seminal moment, encapsulating the fiery spirit and unwavering determination of a nation yearning for independence. Delivered on August 8, 1942, at the All-India Congress Committee session in Bombay, the speech marked a significant shift in the Indian National Congress' strategy and ignited a mass movement that would bring the British Raj to its knees. The onset of World War II had exposed the vulnerabilities of the British Empire, and Indians had grown weary of the empty promises of incremental reforms. It was against this backdrop that Gandhi exhorted his fellow countrymen to launch a decisive struggle for freedom.

In his speech, Gandhi famously declared, "I believe that in the history of the world, there has not been a more genuinely democratic struggle for freedom than ours." He called upon the masses to adopt the mantra of "Do or Die" in their pursuit of independence. This clarion call rallied millions of Indians from all walks of life, inspiring them to shed their fears and stand united against their oppressors. In his speech, Gandhi emphasized that he had no hate towards the British. He urged his people not to fight the British, but their imperialism. He states that while India is oppressed under the British power it will not be able to do its duty in World War II. “Our quarrel is not with the British people; we fight their imperialism. The proposal for the withdrawal of British power did not come out of anger. It came to enable India to play its due part at the present critical juncture. It is not a happy position for a big country like India to be merely

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Mahatma Gandi: The father of India!!

helping with money and material obtained willy-nilly from her while the United Kingdom is conducting the war.

We cannot evoke the true spirit of sacrifice and valour, so long as we are not free.”

Gandhi's speech aimed to infuse the spirit of nonviolent resistance into the hearts of the Indian people.

He emphasized the need for disciplined, nonviolent protest, urging his compatriots to remain steadfast in the face of violence from the authorities. By emphasizing nonviolence, Gandhi sought to differentiate India's freedom struggle from the militaristic approaches employed in other anti-colonial movements, showcasing India as a torchbearer of peaceful resistance. This was termed satyagraha (truthful request), a show of determined but passive resistance Historical Importance Gandhi's Quit India speech holds immense historical significance due to the transformative impact it had on India's independence movement. It marked a turning point, heralding the beginning of a new phase of agitation that would ultimately pave the way for the end of British rule.

Firstly, the Quite India movement galvanized the masses like never before. Inspired by

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Gandhi's stirring words, millions of Indians took to the streets, engaging in strikes, protests, and civil disobedience. This wave of mass participation shook the foundations of British colonial rule, compelling the British administration to resort to repressive measures to maintain control. The sheer magnitude and resilience of the protests challenged the British perception of Indian subjugation, forcing them to confront the inevitability of India's freedom.

the world. The movement drew parallels with other anti-colonial struggles, resonating with the global sentiment against imperialism. The international spotlight on India's freedom struggle put pressure on the British government, exposing the contradictions between their claims of championing democracy and their continued suppression of the Indian people.

Secondly, the Quit India movement brought together diverse sections of Indian society under a common banner. It united Hindus and Muslims, peasants and intellectuals, men and women, erasing the boundaries of caste, creed, and gender. Gandhi's inclusive message of nonviolence resonated deeply across these divides, fostering a sense of collective action, proving that the Indian people could overcome their differences and forge a common destiny.

“In the democracy which I have envisaged, a democracy established by non-violence, there will be equal freedom for all. Everybody will be his own master. It is to join a struggle for such democracy that I invite you today. Once you realize this, you will forget the differences between the Hindus and Muslims, and think of yourselves as Indians only, engaged in the common struggle for independence.”

Thirdly, the Quit India movement dealt a severe blow to British economic and administrative control. The protests disrupted the normal functioning of government institutions, railways, and communication networks, paralyzing the colonial administration.

Industries, businesses, and educational institutions closed down as a result of the mass agitation, rendering the machinery of colonial rule ineffective.

The British response, characterized by mass arrests and the imposition of martial law, only fuelled the people’s determination to resist.

Thousands gather, hung on every last word uttered by Mahathma Ghandi

Legacy Gandhi's “Quit India” speech led to him being arrested along with several other members of Congress. While Gandhi was arrested, he maintained his resolve in prison despite his and the Congress leadership being isolated from the common people. He engaged in hunger fasts and other resistance struggles while in prison. The initial spread of the speech was limited due to the preventative actions taken by the British colonial government as they banned its press coverage and publishing. However due to the efforts of the underground press, the people of India were made aware of the movement that was taking place and several acts of civil disobedience took place between 1942 and 1944, close to the end of WWII. .

Yet in the long run, it truly was a watershed moment in India's struggle for independence that dealt a severe blow to British rule, exposing the inherent weaknesses of colonial governance and forcing the British to reassess their stance on India. Ultimately, the movement propelled India towards its long-awaited independence in 1947.

Gandhi's words continue to inspire generations, reminding us of the transformative power of peaceful resistance and the indomitable spirit of a people united in their quest for liberty.

By Jayath De Silva

Finally, the Quit India movement played a pivotal role in the international arena. It garnered significant attention and support from sympathetic nations and leaders around

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The Groundbreaking GeneEditing Technique CRISPR/Cas9 is a gene-editing technique that enables scientists to make precise changes to the DNA of any cell or organism, using a programmable enzyme called Cas9. It is programmed with little bits of RNA copies of DNA sequences that allow the Cas 9 protein to find the piece of DNA inside of a cell and cut it. When the cleavage occurs in the DNA, cells take over to repair the break, and in the process, introduce change in the DNA precisely at that place in the genome. These changes made in the DNA trait can be passed on to all future descendants.

mapped (mapping - alignment of the large sets of sequenced reads to a reference genome) the small RNAs identified in S. pyogenes while collaborating with experts in Berlin. When she discovered this, she concluded the RNA found in significant numbers in the bacteria was an undiscovered variety, and its genetic code was extremely close to the one identified in the bacterium's CRISPR sequence. The resemblances between the two lead Charpentier to believe they are connected. She referred to the unknown RNA as transactivating CRISPR RNA (tracrRNA) and published the results of all the targeted research she performed on it.

Jennifer Doudna has been working with RNA for over two decades and has accomplished multiple successful studies; in 2006, she led a research group at the University of California, Berkeley to study The story of how it all began leads to a Nobel Prizewinning Francis Mojica who RNA interference and was working on his thesis discovered that when a at the University of Alicante bacterium survives a viral in 1992. He was a skilled infection, it inserts a fragment microbiologist who was of the virus’s genetic code into researching its genome as a memory of microorganisms, halophiles the infection. This sparked her or ‘salt lovers', a type of interest, and she investigated prokaryotes that survived the information she was given in harsh conditions (high further. She found that, in salinity), and how they addition to the CRISPR withstood variations in sequence, researchers had salinity. While trying to discovered CRISPR-associated understand how halophiles (Cas) genes. These genes are survived in such conditions, very similar to those encoding he discovered that their well-known proteins that DNA had a set of regularly specialize in unwinding and spaced repetitions, which separating DNA. She were also found in bacteria, wondered if the Cas proteins leading him to believe that serve a similar purpose. Are the origin of these repeats they capable of cleaving viral had to be ancestral. The DNA? word CRISPR - Clustered She along with her team spent Regularly Interspaced several years and was Short Palindromic Repeats successful in discovering the (in simple terms, a word Branching Out is a segment where one of our editors function of multiple unique that is repeated between dive headfirst into topics that they have no clue Cas proteins. each unique sentence in a about, resulting in a fresh, if not entertaining insight book) was then given to to the topic. Everything from Art, History and How did the two scientists this discovery and was first meet? mentioned in scientific Technology to Aliens, Conspiracies, and our ruthless writing in the year 2001, a AI Overlords will have their turn!

When Emmanuelle technology that is based on Charpentier arrived to share a bacterial immune system that allows bacteria to fight her findings in tracrRNA at a conference in Puerto Rico, viral infections. she realized she needed a biochemist to collaborate with to explore the CRISPR/Cas system further and When Emmanuelle Charpentier founded her research chose to talk with Jennifer Doudna during the group at the University of Vienna in 2002, she conference. A coworker introduced Doudna to concentrated on one particular bacteria that causes the Emmanuelle and after a second gathering, they agreed most harm to humans: Streptococcus pyogenes. Every to work together. year, it affects millions of individuals.

Charpentier began her research on S. pyogenes by Their theory was that CRISPR-RNA was required to extensively researching how this bacterium's genes are detect the DNA of a virus, and Cas9 was the scissor controlled. that slices off the DNA molecule. When they tried this in vitro, however, nothing happened. The DNA In 2009, she accepted a job with excellent research molecule was unharmed. After much deliberation and prospects at Ume University in Northern Sweden. multiple failed attempts, the researchers ultimately incorporated tracrRNA into their studies. They Along with the bacteria, she was also interested in previously thought that tracrRNA was only required short, gene regulating RNA molecules, and she had when CRISPR-RNA was cleaved into its active state,

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but once Cas9 gained access to tracrRNA, the DNA molecule was cleft into two halves.

The scientists decided to make the genetic scissors simpler. They figured out how to combine tracrRNA with CRISPR-RNA to form a single molecule known as guide RNA. They next investigated if they could program this genetic instrument such that it sliced the DNA at a location selected by the researchers. They took a gene and selected five separate sites where it should be cleaved. The CRISPR component of the scissors was then modified such that its coding correlated to the code where the cuts were to be conducted. The result was tremendous. The DNA molecules were accurately cleaved at the right sites.

They reported their findings in 2012 and earned the Nobel Prize for their astounding discovery in 2020.

In 2013, Feng Zhang was able to cut the DNA in mice and human cells, sparking the "revolution" of CRISPR genome editing.

The CRISPR/Cas9 system has a wide diversity of applications In mice, it is used to fix mutations in monogenic illnesses.

Disrupt the HIV-1 provirus, the HPV, and the hepatitis B virus.

Target human hereditary liver diseases Cancer treatment Crop yield enhancement

The CRISPR/Cas9 mechanism

By Aamna Eliyas

The Downsides of the CRISPR/Cas9 System Off-targeting modifications Possible cause of autoimmune disorders It is difficult to deliver huge amounts CRISPR/Cas9 material to mature cells.

Possibility of causing seed tumors’ in plants

of

The CRISPR/Cas9 system has had a significant impact and will continue to play a vital role in the future.

The evolving of the CRISPR/Cas 9 methodology over time

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Although it might not look like it, CCS is a place brimming with many talented individuals, and in “tête à tête”, we get to know those exceptional students.

In this issue, we have an individual known for his monumental performance, prominent personality, and someone who has manifested great service to the College of Chemical Sciences. It is a pleasure to welcome Isiwara Ratnayake to Tête â Tête.

To start things off, can you tell us a little bit about your background and yourself?

My name is Isiwara and I was born in 1998, so this year I’d be turning 25. I did my O-Levels at Wesley College and then switched to Royal College. At College I was a student dedicated to his studies whilst doing several sports including table tennis, badminton and swimming. I also did a bit of basketball, but one time in grade 4, I fell and ended up breaking 6 of my teeth resulting in that being the end of basketball for me. Right now, I’m serving as the Head Teaching Assistant at CCS. What made you choose chemistry as the field to pursue your degree in?

Well, since my childhood scientists have always fascinated me. I recall every Wednesday a magazine series called ‘The Greatest’ was published by the Daily Mirror.

So, when I came across ‘The GreatestChemist’ magazine, I was fascinated especially by the arts cover that was designed with Marie Curie in her element surrounded with many lab bottles and flasks filled with interesting chemicals. Later on when I started learning science in Grade 6, I always did all the extra activities provided in our syllabus and figured out that I was mostly fond of activities that involved chemicals. So, there was a natural inclination of myself towards chemistry. The main reason behind me choosing chemistry was that I was good at it from my schooling years. I’d like to give credit to all my science teachers from Grade 6. They all did a fantastic job in teaching us chemistry in an inspiring manner. My O/L science teacher was a huge part of my growing interest towards chemistry because she would take us to the A/L chemistry labs that gave off such aesthetic, archaic vibes like you see in the movies and we got hands-on experience doing practicals. I must also acknowledge my A/L chemistry tutor, he always encouraged us to refer renowned chemistry text by P.W Atkins, J.D Lee etc. during my A/L days. This instilled in me an appreciation for chemistry as the central science. So, these were a large part of what led me into pursuing a degree in chemistry.

-are with us a few highlights of your life at CCS? One of my biggest achievements during my life here at CCS was to prevent the Gavel Club of CCS from dying and bringing it back as an active club amongst the students of CCS. At the time when we were handed over with the responsibility of the club, there were only six of us, newcomers to the club with only five months of experience. To be precise, we were asked to take up roles in the Gavel ExCo during our fifth meeting. So having been given this responsibility, we had to muster up the courage and put on our brave front. So….. were we competent speakers? No! I came to Gavel because I was not a good speaker and was hoping to improve my public speaking skills. However, ultimately, we had to steer the club. If we had not taken the courage to take over the board, who knows, maybe the Gavel Club wouldn’t be in its place of existence today. So, with a lot of strategic planning, somehow by hook or crook, as the newly elected ExCo, we managed to get many members for the club. We also managed to successfully hold a Gavel Installation Ceremony which turned out to be a triumphant success, holding around 75 people for the event. Moreover, I’m proud to say two of my friends and I were the ones who initiated the idea of introducing the whole concept of a Gavel Club magazine ‘The Gavelier’.

You have been in the College of Chemical Sciences for around 6 years, so could you sh-

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about aeroplanes, the tallest buildings, the deepest part of the ocean and miscellaneous things that I come across on the internet. Let’s see what’s my most recent Google search. Oh! I have been reading about David Letterman after coming across him in some meme. So, to sum it up, I read random stuff and anything that I find interesting.

"Isiwara and the dream team of 2019 Gavel CCS"

As students, some of us need months and months of preparation to sit for an exam, and some of us can study for an exam in just a short period. Which category do you see yourself falling into?

I prepare my notes a while ahead, but I study at the last minute. I usually have my notes perfectly ready so I can study just before the exam. I put a considerable effort in getting the notes ready, you know, you need to go through books and refer to as many articles as you can. Once you do that you have an idea of what you have to do, so in that way you don’t have to aimlessly wait until the last moment because now you have an idea of how to approach it.

We heard that you presented your research at the SLTC International Research Conference 2022. How did that go?

The presentation of the research was actually no big deal. You know your research so there is nothing much you have to get prepared for. There is a panel of eminent scientists, who would ask you questions regarding your research presentation, but if you have done your research properly you have no issues as you will have all answers to the questions being asked.

Isiwara, your outstanding character lead you to receive an all-rounder award, what did it take to achieve this?

The all-rounder award is awarded based on certain criteria; academic achievements, achievements in sports, achievements in the CCS student council, involvements in CCS events and participation in club activities.

My advice is not to stick only to one, but involve in all types of extra and cocurricular activities. In my case, I was heavily involved in most of these, with the exemption of sports at CCS. So, that’s how you approach the all-rounder award.

Could you tell us a bit about your field of research and any spectacular, unforgettable moments you experienced during your research at CCS? I, as an A-level student, wanted to get involved in medicinal chemistry to discover a cure for dengue. So, when I started doing chemistry, I was mostly into organic, medicinal and pharmaceutical chemistry.

However, unlike now, back then we did not have the chance of choosing our research topics. They were assigned by Google’s random number generator, so there was a risk of getting a topic you wouldn’t like. I thought I was being smart as I avoided this risk and chose to pay and do my research at an external institute in molecular biology. But later I realised it wasn’t a smart choice when I received my first research topic. However, my determination to do an impactful project led me to discuss with my supervisor and come up with a relatively more impactful project by collaborating with the Institute. So, I decided to analyse the presence of pathogenic bacteria in inland fish, and to investigate the presence of heavy metals in the same. So ultimately my project was a heavy metal and pathogenic bacteria analysis on inland fish.

What is your advice to aspiring readers who would want to take inspiration from your journey?

Never give up! And be prepared to Adapt, Improvise, and Overcome. The most important thing is that you should understand your strengths and weaknesses, your surrounding and the ability to act appropriately. In the quest of not giving up, adapting and improvising you should persevere, be committed and also be prepared to make sacrifices. And at the end of

What do you consider as your hobby?

I do read, but not books. I read random stuff, like these days I have been reading

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"Isiwara in action as a TA"

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the day, when you achieve almost everything you yearned for, the satisfaction and happiness you will gain is immense and unparallel. So, As John Cena said, Never Give Up! Could you share with us a little bit about how you feel now that you’ve been selected for your PhD? Well, to be honest, I’m going to miss Sri Lanka now that I’ve received my visa, but yes other than that I’m quite happy with the fact that I’ll be going to New York University (NYU), which one of the top private universities in the world where admissions are considered highly selective. It’s located in Manhattan, New York City and is ranked 38 in the world making it one of the top 50 universities in the world. I am actually very pleased since I received fully funded placements from five universities to carry out my Ph.D. So, I had quite a hard time trying to select between the options I had. Choosing in-between NYU and PennState which were the two narrowed-down options was a nightmare.

After giving a lot of consideration I finally settled and chose the New York University over my other options.

My parents and a couple of my friends had already recommended and wanted me to go there anyway.

We know that alongside your degree at CCS, you also pursued a diploma in CIPM. What made you pursue it and how did you manage your schedule and juggle between both ends?

Yes, I started doing HR management in CIPM because, for a chemistry degree in Sri Lanka, the number of jobs is relatively limited. So, I thought doing something management based would be an added advantage.

However, I dropped it at the diploma stage because doing HR means that you have to have hands-on experience at a job and since I was pursuing a degree and not working, it was counterproductive.

What is one book you everyone to read and why?

would

recommend

I have to mention that I have not read a single book since my O-level literature exam. I have a habit of collecting books but I never read them. I went and bought a Harry Potter book in 2007 when it was released but I never read it.

I do read about cars and other random interesting stuff, as I mentioned before.

How would you describe yourself in three words?

Hardworking, opportunistic (as long as it doesn’t infringe upon or negatively impact others) and an Introvert (I am an INTJ from the MBTI personality types) To wind up, our last question for you is where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Preferably in a research organization dedicated for research for the development of fundamental science. I wouldn’t want to do industry-orientated research since it encompasses some restrictions and boundaries. And hopefully with a Mercedes S class.

Thank you so much for your time and for being with us today. It was an honour to get to know more about you, Isiwara.

Thank you so much for having me, it was my pleasure.

If you were to have a superpower, what would it be?

Superpower to do everything I want.

If you find a solution to a single-world issue, what issue would you solve?

A cure for Alzheimer’s disease, It’s currently my area of interest.

We both know that we humans aren’t perfect, every single one of us has our imperfections, so can you share with us some of your imperfections?

I am not good at understanding what other people think and I don’t have that sense of figuring out what people like and don’t like. I would expect that people could directly communicate to me what they are thinking without me trying to figure it out on my own.

Isiwara at the Roteract Installation

Interviewed & written by Dheenah Liyaudeen

Keshiah Fernandez

Would you rather never have a life without air conditioning or never be able to use deodorant?

I would go for air conditioning because if there is air conditioning I wouldn’t sweat and I can always use a perfume. You use deodorant when you sweat but when you have air conditioning then you don’t sweat. Gets the job done!

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The 2022/2023 EXCO who have been handling the reins of the club for almost a year make their first appearance in the Gavelier whilst bearing their roles, namely,

Sanuga ‘the Zealous’ President

Dheenah ‘the Sophisticated’ Assistant Secretary

Amali ‘the Vivacious’ Vice President of Education

Hasangee ‘the Passionate’ Treasurer

Keshiah ‘the Vibrant’ Vice President of Membership

Sujayee ‘the Charming’ Sergeant-At-Arms

Dulyana ‘the Ingenious’ Vice President of Public Relations

Senaya ‘the Whimsical’ Deputy Vice President of Education

Harini ‘the Charismatic’ Secretary

Dinara ‘the Extraordinary’ Vice President of Membership

Who are they and what are they like? Do you know enough about them or is there more to discover?

Get to know these aspiring, brilliant-minded personalities as they share with us some of their interests, goals and interesting facts about their personal lives.

We think we know you, but do we really? So our first question for you is, what would you change about yourself if you could?

Keshiah: I would want to change my lack of empathy towards individuals during certain circumstances and lack of understanding people from their point of view.

Ama: I would change my awe'some'ness into awe'alot'ness What do you consider as some of your pet peeves?

T H E

Senaya: “If you want the rainbow, you got to put up with the rain.”

If someone were to write a book about your life, what would its title be?

D E L U X E

KN Y

By

E D I T I O N

0

Keshiah Fernandez

Dheenah: Overgrown finger and toe nails (because they are yuck?), chipped nail polish, people wearing unironed clothes, phone screens that have traces of people's finger touches on them. (I like my phone screen clean and shiny) Dinara: When y'all don't put on deodorant.

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Harini: “It's not like a stab wound you can protect me from. It's a million little paper cuts every day.” Alexander Lightwood

Exc

Sanuga: My sense of insecurity. At a minimum, turning the knob away from max.

Hasangee: “Your life is yours alone, rise and live it.”

W UR

Dheenah Liyaudeen

Sujayee: “Unfinished” Keshiah: “Know your worth”.

Senaya: “Through the mystery hallway” Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Ama: On Earth probably, because habitation on other planets wouldn’t have started.

Dheenah: Not looking at the price tag when shopping.

Keshiah: Married, abroad, enjoying a cottage view and owning a horse of my own. Being occupied with a schedule loaded with scientific presentations while carrying out some breakthrough research.

What is your worst nightmare?

Sanuga: That I'll have regrets when it’s time for me to go.

Dulyana: Chewing sounds, people leaving taps open in the lab and people who think they're always right.

Harini: Being asked to host a party.

What is one quote that you resonate well with?

Ama: A dream where mom keeps calling my name for house chores because the reason I sleep is mainly to get

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If there was a book with all the answers that existed, what question would you be seeking the answer to?

Dheenah: What would a world populated by clones of me, be like?

Hasangee: How and when can we stop poverty and bring smiles to all innocent, poor families?

Senaya: Who am I? Would you rather be half your height or double your weight? & why?

That time we had our first physical meeting after COVID

a break from that. (Come on, I thought you asked about an actual nightmare!)

What genre of movies interests you the most and why?

Hasangee: Fantasy. I love to live in worlds beyond my imagination.

Harini: Murder mystery and romcoms. Murder mystery because I grew up reading Agatha Christie and I love a good whodunnit Romcom, because I'm a hopeless romantic who needs something funny to escape into.

Ama: Psychological thrillers, because psychology is my favourite subject and they are the real-life horror stories.

If you were given a chance to pursue a different path other than the field of chemistry, what would it be?

Dheenah: Be the owner of a bookstore (like Barnes and Noble) and study nutritional sciences.

Dinara: Music. I wish I could conduct an orchestra one day. I would also like to live on a rural farm in Eastern Europe... probably with a lot of cats (who like me back).

Keshiah: Half my height, because then I can creep through crowds, be called cute and be adored by everyone. I can win hearts and get my way through stuff easily.

Sanuga: Half attacked).

my

height.

(I

feel

personally

Senaya: Half of my height because this weight is also too hard for me to bear up.

What drives you towards achieving your goals in life?

Sujayee: My family Harini: The need to succeed and develop myself.

Dulyana: Thinking of how proud my parents would be.

Well, that concludes our interview with this spectacular board of Executive members. Thank you for being with us and spending time off your schedules to give us an insight into your lives.

We wish you all the very best!

Sujayee: Fashion designer What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?

Dinara: Changing your life begins with your smallest habits.

Sanuga: Stop trying to paint yourself as a victim whenever you face a problem. Rather, divert that energy to getting over it and moving on.

Dulyana: Be cautious where you "spill the tea" because sometimes tea leaves stains.

That time we all went to the beach

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17

To Be a Rock “She was always doing funny thingsFor a grown-up.

Like running through woodland trails Or climbing and jumping out of trees.

Perhaps it was because She had just a little drop of fairy In her blood That kept her wild.

And free Most of all, free.”

-B. Diaz.

Growing up will always feel like being thwarted by the ocean; the waves of society constantly hitting the shore, daily and relentlessly, shaping us to be flat pebbles on a sandy stretch of land. The curious thing about flat pebbles though, is that they are usually all identical. Unremarkably unnoticeable and easy to throw into the sea just to see how many times it skips.

A little tip; it doesn’t, flat stones only skip in rivers, not seas. But we do that anyway, don’t we? Because pebbles are so pliantly smooth that it’s easy to pick them up, throw them to the grasp of society and watch them sink among its waves.

Let’s imagine for a minute instead, have you ever thought of picking up those large mountainously jiggered rocks that climb up to the sky from the sea beds and beaches?

Even the very idea seems bizarre. No one has ever imagined uprooting something so intimidating and large, unlike the pebbles on a beach. We adjust to the presence of a sea rock, when

The most normal things are still abnormal

18

“Everybody Has magic inside of them”

pebbles adjust to the idea of us. We watch it climb all the way up to the sky and think, look how free it is. There is something unapologetic about being a boulder in a world of pebbles.

I always thought that people were fashioned less like pebbles and more like boulders- they’re meant to be unique, unapologetic and rising above the waves of an ocean called a society.

It crashes on them over and over, trying to make them small, and petite in a constant attempt to rid them of free-thinking free spirits.

Think about it, right now, while you’re reading this article, where are you? At home lounging on your bed? Are you on a bench somewhere in public? Are you in a classroom? Wherever you are right now, what’s stopping you from bursting out and singing your favourite song from the top of your lungs?

Technically, (unless you’re in a library) nothing. But alas, too little singing is done in random public places. That’s the scary thing about society; it seeps into you and turns you into a petite uniformly common pebble just like everyone else. They tell you to follow your dreams, to be who you are and to love your body. Has anyone told you it’s okay to sing Green Day at the top of your lungs while walking down the pavement?

Maybe that’s why there’s so much fear around such a simple thing. There’s always the fear of the judgmental looks you may possibly get, maybe the idea that someone will shush at you terrifies you.

This fear is so loud that you can hear it, even when

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you’re alone in your room, and usually, you’re still terrified of ‘acting weird’ even in the confinements of your own room.

Surely, surely there are more people out there who want to dye their hair in five colours, wear goggles instead of sunglasses, who wants to take pictures when lightning strikes. Surely, there are more people who want to fascinate over small things like butterflies and poetry, people who want to give gifts instead of receive them, people who want to sit under a tree in a random park and play a guitar throughout the day.

Surely there are more people who want to sing. But we are so scared of social judgment that we always fit into moulds expected and enforced on us. These moulds force big, vibrant personalities to crawl into small and constricted spaces that society allowed them to have.

It eats at their creative minds and free-spirited hearts, making them hide their specialness behind a word called ‘weird’.

It’s a word often misunderstood as negative, when in reality, weird is synonymous with unique. We live in a world constantly full of hatred and judgment, always so ready to be thrown at us that we take words like weird, hide them in the deepest corners of our souls and never let anyone see them. Weird is anything abdominal from the social expectation. It could be as simple as climbing a tree to as complex as being a feminine boy. We try to act ‘normal’ when that too, is subjective, isn’t it funny how life never came with a guidance manual on what’s normal and what isn’t?

-dest clothes in your cupboard all mixed and matched together, just for one day. Try a bolder colour of lipstick or a perfume with a weird smell on it. Wear mismatched socks and read on the train, talk to birds and become a boulder in a world of pebbles. Attract people’s eyes proudly and smile when people call you weird, knowing that they are not normal to you either. This week, try at least one thing you stopped yourself from doing out of social judgment.

The only question you should ask is, what’s the worst that can happen? And if it’s not much, don’t let anything stop you.

By Dhyani Hapuarachchi

Deputy Vice President of Colombo Independent Debaters' Society

RIDDLE CULOUS

A set of words that seem so fickle A story hiding in the middle You can think or you can scribble Will you be able to solve our riddle?

I speak without a mouth and hear without ears.

I have no body, but I come alive with the wind.

Who am I? Answer to last issue’s riddle: “The moon is closer than you think”

So, if you are reading this, this is your sign to embrace the weirdness in you. Maybe I want more people in the world who would laugh louder, wear flowers on their hair and jump on water puddles for the mere sake of it. Maybe somewhere, someone was waiting until this message reached them- so here goes. Wear the weir-

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Beauty This riddle is a play on the proverb, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."

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The Panopticon Theory In the mid-1700s, English philosopher and social theorist Jeremy Bentham created a mechanism of social control that would become a pervasive symbol of modern authority and discipline in the Western world. It is actually a concept for a perfect prison system. The concept is to allow all prisoners of an institution to be observed by a single security guard, without the inmates knowing they are being watched. Although it is physically impossible for the single guard to observe all the inmates' cells at once, the fact that the inmates cannot know when they are being watched motivates them to act as though they are all being watched at all times. They are effectively compelled to self-regulation.

The architecture consists of a rotunda with an inspection house at its center. From the center, the manager or staff are able to watch the inmates. The Panopticon theory holds that people can be controlled when they believe themselves to be under constant surveillance even if no one is watching. The theory stems from the intended effect of having a central guard tower in a prison that all the prisoners could see, even though they could not see the guards. In fact, we are not referring to a literal prison in this context, but rather to the subtle ways in which society can influence and shape us without our awareness. This concept has faced criticism over time when discussing the idea of societal control, and it is often used metaphorically to convey its implications. In the mid-1970s, Michel Foucault, a French philosopher, conducted an extensive study on this subject.

Ultimately, he presented a different perspective to the world. He argued that discipline had replaced the pre-modern society governed by kings, and that the panopticon should not be regarded merely as a physical structure, but rather as a mechanism of power and a diagram of political technology.

Foucault utilized the panopticon as an illustrative tool to demonstrate the inclination of disciplinary societies to exert control over their citizens. he described the prisoner within a panopticon as experiencing asymmetrical surveillance: "He is seen, but he does not see; he is an object of information, never a subject in communication."

"The Great Indian Panopticon"

In 1997, Thomas Mathiesen, in turn, expanded on Foucault's use of the panopticon metaphor when analyzing the effects of mass media on society. He argued that mass media, such as broadcast television, gave many people the ability to view the few from their own homes and gaze upon the lives of reporters and celebrities. Nowadays, the metaphor of the panopticon prison has been employed to analyze the social significance of sureveillance by closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in public spaces. Not only that, it is also widely used in fields like employment and management. An example of a Panopticon is when individuals voluntarily enter into employment contracts and are therefore under an obligation to do as their employer demands during their working time.

Indeed, there are both dark and positive aspects. The panopticon has become a symbol of the extreme measures that some companies take in the name of efficiency, as well as to guard against employee theft. Time theft by workers has been acknowledged as a hindrance to productivity, and management associates theft with any behavior that involves avoiding work.

In recent decades, the justification for implementing various surveillance techniques and the demonization of employees who resist them have been based on the notion of "unproductive behavior." The concept of the panopticon has been referenced in early discussions regarding the impact of social media. In the modern academic literature on social media, terms such as lateral surveillance, social search, and social monitoring are used to critically evaluate the effects of social media. For better or worse, this concept operates in various societal systems. I believe it is crucial for us all to comprehend its application, as it has already been employed to exert control over us.

In this article, I aim to provide you with an understanding of it and present a critical examination of the situations that may arise in the future.

By Pramodhya Kularathne Gavel Club of SLTC "The Modern Panopticon"

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W C R O S S R D M O V

I

E S

Down

1. The sequel to this film was released 13 years later 3. Name of Thor’s home planet 4. May the ____ be ever in your favor 5. This famous movie’s name is a palindrome 7. The first film in history to be nominated for both ‘best picture’ and ‘best animated film’ at the Oscars 8 . This fim was based off Jane Austen’s ‘Emma’ 9. Kiera Knightly wore the iconic green dress in which film 10. The first rule about this club is that we don’t talk about this club 13. The ‘unsinkable’ ship THE GAVELIER GAVEL CCS NEWSLETTER

Across

2. The film that predicted reality TV 6. 4 Gryffindor classmates in the 1970s 11. Time before sunrise and after sunset 12. A planet destroying spaceship 14. First foreign film to win an Oscar for ‘best picture’ 15. This trilogy was filmed entirely in New Zealand

By Harini De Silva 21

Death Note:

temptation.

The Blurry Line Between Justice and Madness What truly is justice? Can a person really decide on how to punish another person’s crimes? If so, how?

What would you do with the power to ‘deliver justice’? These are very morally complex questions.

Death Note, which is originally a manga series created by Tsugumi Ohaba tells us the story of our protagonist Light Yagami, a high school student who happened to come across a mysterious book. Death Note shows us a complex and captivating story by dwelling on the nature of justice and the consequences of wielding power.

I won’t spoil the series for you much as I hope you’ll be tempted to watch the series after reading my article. Light Yagami a high school student stumbles across a mysterious supernatural book, the ‘Death Note’ at his high school. The death notes’ original owner happened to be an apple-loving Shinigami, Ryuk (A god of death) who uses the book, to kill of course. It’s his job. But then he becomes intrigued by how Light uses the books’ power to become the selfproclaimed ‘arbiter of divine judgement’.

We can get a clear idea of his sentiments from his quote- “I am justice! I protect the innocent and those who fear evil. I am the one who will become the god of a new world that everyone desires”.

Imagining a 17-year-old high schooler saying this would make us teach him a lesson or two. But it is better for our health if Light and his trusty Death Note barely know about our existence.

As Light continues his ‘heroic work’, he attracts the attention of a renowned detective known as ‘L’. Ls’ objective is to uncover the true identity of the havocwreaking Kira and bring him to justice. Not only have they found their match in wits, but strangely enough, a complex mix of rivalry and respect bloom amid their clashing ideoligies. And so, begins the cat-andmouse chase between the two as they try to outsmart and expose each other blurring the lines between genius and madness. We see how Light strategically takes the quote ‘keep your friends close, but your enemies closer’ to heart and befriends L. L certainly has an advantage over Light by being known by everyone solely by his alias ‘L’ and not his real name. And if you like eccentric and enigmatic detectives who behave a bit abnormally (*cough Sherlock *cough) L is not far off from your taste. This is a battle of intellect and morals which will leave your sanity hanging by a thread.

This anime simply leads us on a journey of a high schooler’s life, who just happened to have a supernatural book that kills people. At the beginning of his journey as Kira, we can see him efficiently balancing his Death Note duties with his academic activities. His quote, “I’ll solve the equations with my right hand and write names with my left.

I’ll take a potato chip… and eat it!” shows how confident he was in his abilities to balance both his high school and his role as ‘Kira’

BEST OF ALL

L on the other hand, our equally mysterious detective with his quirky and unorthodox personality is a viewer favourite. Especially the way he sits. His quote “I don’t sit like this because I want to.

I must sit like this. If I were to sit normally, my deductive ability would immediately be reduced by roughly 40%.”

This shows how dedicated he is to his challenge of uncovering the face behind the mask ‘Kira’. L is often portrayed as an unfeeling robotic machine who hasn’t had enough sleep

By writing the name of a person with their faces in mind within the pages of the Death Note, supernatural forces act to What is the best movie, book, eliminate the person as the writer TV show, game or song that you wishes. Lights’ transcendental vision of creating a crime-free can think of ? Everyone has world earned him the alias ‘Kira’ and the people’s ambivalence their own preferences. Well, it’s about whether Kira is, in fact, a time for you to know ours! hero or a villain. The lines between but his unique bond with Light’s father and his righteousness and megalomania become increasingly successor Near adds a different flavour to his blurred for Light as the series progress. And the personality we’re familiar with.

Death Note itself becomes the symbol of power and

Does anyone's name come to your mind?

22

I should not leave out an introduction to Lights’ Shinigami friend, Ryuk. Shinigami's have the ability to see a human’s name and their life span which they utilize when using the Death Note. As a being with an affinity to death, it is detached from human perspectives. In his words, “Humans are so interesting”. He adds the necessary bit of dark humour to the series through his distinct personality.

He comes across as an apathetic and mischievous supernatural being who has been bored all their life and has found a new pet to spend time with, namely Light. He lets Light play with his book purely for his entertainment. He is fascinated by humans and their

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“Is it possible to judge whether a decision is right or wrong solely by its consequences? Is it possible for something to truly be good or evil?”

What are your thoughts?

By Dinara Gunathilake

NAG A RAM The unlikeliest besties

actions and enjoys them from a distance and in a neutral stance.

“I’m not on anyone’s side. I’m only here to observe and be entertained.”

One of my favourite quotes by Ryuk is “Humans are so fascinating. They’re capable of changing the world, but most of them just live their lives like they can’t change a thing.” He sees the potential of human capabilities and might find humour in the fact that we crawl when we could fly. His sentiments are also seen in another quote of his; “The human world is a boring place with boring people doing boring things” The plot thickens with the introduction of newer and newer characters and twists, the details of which I will spare you for now. All I can say is, the intricate plot, character developments and suspense can only be experienced by watching or reading the series, which I highly recommend if you are interested in thoughtprovoking plots such as this one.

Do we actually want you to annoy a large herbivore with deadly horns?

Not really.

Anagram Nag a ram, is a word or a phrase formed by rearranging the letters of another word or a phrase. Even the ancient Greeks used them to fool their friends.

Can you figure out this Anagram?

SILENT hint: You have to be (anagram) if you properly want to (solution) Answer to last month’s Anagram: EARTH – HEART

The anime series ‘Death Note’ was released in 2006 with one season consisting of thirty seven episodes, approximately twenty minutes each. It was awarded multiple accolades, including the award for “Best TV Anime award at the 6th annual Tokyo Anime Awards.

A special mention should be done about Light Yagami’s voice actor, who is outstanding in his field and has left the voice of Light iconic to this day, especially his manic laugh. He is also the voice behind the iconic Osamu Dazai in Bangou Stray Dogs and Amai Mask from One Punch Man. Let me end with a beautiful quote by Light which summarizes Death Note in a nutshell,

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92nd Educational Meeting

Have you missed any events of gavel CCS within the past few months? Not to worry, News Corner is all about bringing you the latest updates on what Gavel has been up to!

91st Educational Meeting The educational meetings conducted through the Zoom platform boosted our isolated lives. Yet we were dreaming of participating in a physical education meeting. On 12th August 2022, all our dreams came true, as we held the first physical educational meeting after the COVID-19 outbreak, at the PPGL Siriwardena Auditorium of CCS. The first physical meeting held after over two years was conducted under the spooky theme of “Conspiracy Theories”. The toastmaster of the day, Gavelier Keshiah, got the proverbial ball rolling by introducing everyone to the meeting theme. The round-robin session was made mysterious with thrilling conspiracy theories, where everyone had to come up with a conspiracy theory that they believed in. The table-topics session also witnessed some great speeches. The meeting ended with a spine-chilling game. Everyone was so happy to meet physically, dusting the cobwebs of Zoom.

A speech with vocal, and facial variations and body movements is indeed a stage act that mesmerizes the audience. 20th October marked a special day in the 2022 gavel calendar. The 92nd educational meeting was a special educational meeting conducted under the theme “Let your body talk”.

The meeting was presided over by the guest speaker Toastmaster Praveen Nanayakkara who conducted an educational session on employing facial expressions and body movements when delivering a speech.

Following that, Gavelier Harini, who was the Toastmaster of the day, introduced the theme to the audience. The round-robin session where the participants continued a story took an unexpected turn towards the end making it humorous and memorable. During the table-topics session, the speakers were asked to market a random hidden object they selected persuading the audience to buy it which revealed the advertising skills of our talented speakers. The end of the meeting was marked with Gavelier Sanuga, the president of gavel CCS, handing over a token of appreciation to the guest of honour who is actually his brother!

"The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn't said" - Peter Drucker 24

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10th issue of the Gavelier The 10th issue of “The Gavelier,” the official magazine of the gavel club of CCS, was released on 30th August 2022 under an amazing board of editors led by the Past editor-in-chief of the magazine, Gavelier Anupa Somasiri. The magazine contained a lot of interesting segments that enlightened the readers’ minds with a diverse range of topics.

All Island Best Gavel Speaker All Island Best Gavel Speaker contest is one of the major parts of the Gavel conference, where the gaveliers are contested under three main categories; prepared speech, impromptu speech and speech evaluations. AIBGS semi-finals were held on October 9th 2022 at the University of Kelaniya where our most talented Gavelier Dheenah participated under the prepared speech category.

"Gaveliers' Ama and Dinara, singing their hearts out at Gavel's Got Talent, securing first place for Gavel CCS"

The Conference

Gavel Conference 2022 Since 2016 The Gavel Conference Sri Lanka has been what united all the Gavel clubs across the country.

And in 2022 it was held on November 3rd and 4th at Seven Say Reception Hall, Veyangoda. Gavelier Uthsara Malaweeraarachchi from Gavel CCS held the position of treasurer in the executive committee of the Gavel Conference 2022 and many other gaveliers were part of the organizing committee.

"Awards for the AIBGS finals Winners"

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Last year's Gavel Conference gave gavel delegates from every Gavel Club an opportunity to convene, celebrate their legacy as Gaveliers and take part in a series of memorable sessions and activities which included a scavenger hunt, the mannequin challenge and many more. The guest speakers of the day were Captain Elmo Jayawardana and Mr. Shewan Daniel who captivated the minds of the gaveliers with their amazing speeches. The Gavel conference ended with its spotlight event “Gavel's Got Talent” where gaveliers are given an opportunity to showcase their talents. Gavelier Amali and Gavelier Dinara from the Gavel Club of CCS won the contest with a stunning performance, bringing the trophy to Gavel CCS.

"Gavel Club of CCS at Gavel Conference"

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94th Educational Meeting “What is a superhero?

They’re supposed to represent hope, opportunity, and strength for everybody.”

– Aldis Hodge

93rd Educational Meeting The 93rd Educational meeting was very special because it was the first meeting with new gaveliers who joined us from the 43rd batch of CCS. The meeting was held on the 15th of January 2023 through the Zoom platform. The meeting that was themed “Welcome” started with Gavelier Sanuga who was the toastmaster of the day welcoming the new members to the club and an interesting roundrobin session where everyone introduced themselves to others. It was followed by a wonderful table-topics session where most of the new gaveliers took the chance to showcase their talents which resulted in an excellent evaluation session. As usual, the meeting concluded with an informal session in which everyone had a great time catching up with the new members.

All of us have a superhero in our life. On 20th March 2023, we met some of those superheroes at the PPGL Siriwardena Auditorium of the College of Chemical Sciences. The 94th educational meeting was conducted under the theme “Superheroes”. Gavelier Dinara, who was the toastmaster of the day, revealed the theme of the day with her fellow personality that lives within her, Harley Quinn. The round-robin session was super energetic where each member depicted their favorite superhero power. The table-topics session provided more superpowers to the audience, to travel beyond the imagination. The meeting ended with a fun game of Charades making all of us feel like we saved the day.

Haven’t read the previous issue?

Scan the QR code to get started!

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95th Educational Meeting This year gavel CCS celebrated the new year by holding hands of friendship with the Gavel Club of SLTC. After a long pause of about two years, a joint educational meeting was held which was on 24th April 2023 at the PPGL Siriwardena Auditorium, of the College of Chemical Sciences. The theme of the meeting was “Awurudu,” since it was the blissful season of Awurudu. As the president of the gavel club of CCS, gavelier Sanuga warmly welcomed the members of the gavel club of SLTC. Gavelier Senaya who was the toastmaster of the day, introduced the theme of the day by inspiring the audience with a poem that signifies the bliss of the New Year. The round-robin session was filled with laughter with the story that was built up with mindboggling twists and turns. Gavelier Dinara mesmerized the audience with her CC-1 speech as a part of the Competent Communicator program. The table topics session was conducted by gavelier Vimangsa of the Gavel Club of SLTC. It was truly an exciting session, where speakers from both clubs delivered some mind-blowing speeches. The official meeting ended with Gavelier Janidu, the president of the Gavel Club of SLTC, expressing his compliments on the educational meeting. The informal session was the best part of the day where we treated members of Gavel SLTC with a traditional awurudu table and we got the chance to interact with each other. The end of the informal session was quite cheerful with the musical hat game. This meeting cherished us with the real spirit of the New Year.

96th Educational Meeting The 96th Educational Meeting of Gavel CCS was held on July 9, 2023, at Mount Lavinia Beach, under the theme “Gavel goes to the Beach”. It was a splendid and memorable meeting in the Gavel CCS history.

The Toastmaster of the Day, Gavelier Dulyana, started the meeting off with a unique and engaging introduction.

This was followed by a round-robin session led by Gavelier Sanduni and a table-topics session led by Gavelier Amali, during which some exceptional speakers took the stage. The official proceedings of the meeting concluded with a comprehensive evaluation session. The informal session was the best part of the meeting, where everyone was sun-kissed while splashing with waves.

"Dance with the waves, move with the sea. Let the rhythm of the water set your soul free" - Christy Ann martine

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97th Educational Meeting "Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.”

-Victor Hugo Music is a universal language that can express the embarked emotions of a person. The 97th educational meeting of the Gavel Club of CCS was held under the theme of “Music”. It was held on September 6th at the PPGL Auditorium. The meeting started with a welcome from the Toastmaster of the Day, Gavelier Santo, who prepared everyone for an interesting meeting. Gavelier Senaya then conducted the round-robin session, where every participant had to speak about their favourite song. Gavelier Dinara conducted the table-topics session which featured humorous speeches and exceptional speakers. The meeting usually ended with a relaxing informal session, where everyone had the opportunity to listen to their favourite songs.

The speakers for the day gave powerful speeches that evoked a range of emotions in the audience with their captivating stories which were followed by remarkable evaluations. The session concluded with the official announcements given by the president, Gavelier Sanuga, regarding the upcoming Gavel CCS webpage, Credence Workshop and CCS best speaker competition.

The Orator, Quest 4 The first physical orator, which was held after the Covid Outbreak was held on 20th September 2023 at the PPGL auditorium. Orator is a speech marathon session that allows club members to present their CC (Competent Communicator) program speeches which are evaluated by fellow Gaveliers. Gavelier Keshiah, the host of the event warmly welcomed everyone and spoke about the power of speech which marked the inauguration of the Orator, Quest 4. The Gaveliers who mesmerized the audience of the orator were Gavelier Supun, Gavelier Senaya, Gavelier Subathi, Gavelier Jayath, Gavelier Dulyana, Gavelier Shehan, Gavelier Oshadhi and Gavelier Santo. They were evaluated by Gavelier Dulyana, Gavelier Sanuga, Gavelier Sujayee, Gavelier Senan and Gavelier Hasangee.

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By Hasangee Gunasinghe

Sujayee Athukorala

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Speech EvaluationsThe Grand Finale Asks much from us, the world, sometimes, hasn’t a choice but to do, it seems But just like how I drop these rhymes, always exists a choice to dream.

We all know that in life, good times, bad times, and weird times all come to pass. We live through it all, and it affects us in various ways. Sometimes we are happy, sometimes we are sad, sometimes we are anxious and stressed, and sometimes we just feel like we want to embrace the crazy euphoria and let caution to the wind, like me after a swig of ice-cold water at 3 am, from my water bottle, which happens to be an old bottle of Ballantine’s finest blended Scotch whiskey. These very emotions affect everything we say and do, and interestingly enough, in evaluations, our emotions and our attitudes towards every part of it play the most important role in its success or its failure.

Dear readers that read my horribly boring stuff here, have you guys ever felt conscious about things you say? Have you thought about how emotions and feelings seem to control the things we say and do? To a speaker, especially to Gaveliers, this is not news since oftentimes, their speeches are fueled by emotion. Emotion is the very engine that drives their speech forward, that keeps the words flowing, and when a speaker uses emotion to passionately speak about something, people usually say they “speak from the heart.”

I’ve seen my fair share of debates, and often you also witness very emotionally driven speeches in debates, which they call “speaking with conviction.”

And in all cases, speeches of this sort are extremely powerful, as it is akin to a dagger piercing flesh – the dagger being the emotion, and the flesh being…well, the audience’s flesh. Yet in evaluations, you almost never see a display of raw emotion of this sort. It is among others, one of life’s greatest mysteries!

Speeches move mountains, but what in the world do evaluations do? Why is it even important?

The technicalities of evaluations aside, since we already discussed all those in the previous iterations of this segment, the most important thing for an evaluator is to understand the nature of evaluating.

Doing it for all these years as part of the Gavel Club

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of CCS has made me question it this way, because ultimately a speech is an expression of self, while an evaluation is a controlled critique for a speaker’s selfimprovement. An evaluation will never make you feel fulfilled in the same way a speech does, because you can speak your heart out, but you can never evaluate your heart out. Yet…speech evaluations remain one of the most important cornerstones of speaking for this exact reason. If you think about it, a speaker speaks their heart out to an audience. The evaluator, at this point, is part of that very audience. And when that evaluator takes the stage for the speech evaluation, it is the audience that is speaking back to the speaker now. An evaluator is a selfless reflection of the emotion that a speaker drove into the audience, they are a voice of the audience’s perception of the message delivered by a speaker, and they are a catalyst to improve a speaker both technically, and mentally by motivation and constructive critique, but they are also a tether, they are the Daedalus to the speaker’s Icarus, grounding them, allowing them to be more connected to the audience than ever before. This is what makes an evaluator important, due to their symbiotic relationship with the speaker. Neither the speaker nor evaluator is better than the other, but they both need each other to help improve the other, to uplift each other, and to make sure they don’t fly too close to the sun.

This, my readers, is the true nature of evaluating from what I see. Pardon the philosophical episode, but therein lies the beauty of it right? Half of what I say might be utter rubbish! I leave that up to you guys to decide. Since this is my very last one anyway, what better way to go than to go out with a philosophical bang?

By Senan Alwis

Eats papayas for breakfast.

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Parting Rose It's not easy, what I do. I'd perfected the thin-lipped smile, gotten used to being the most unwelcomed guest imaginable. My sister, however, had the better end of the deal. She got to hold tiny fingers as they curled in senseless but cute fists. She got to fill warm little lungs with their first breath of fresh air.

I, however, clearly had drawn the short straw. The hands I would hold would either be shaking out of control or limp like a dead fish. (Believe me, I've held many of those—dead fish, I mean.) Their fear and anguish always burned through my bones as frail fingers desperately clutched at mine.

But mostly, there would be regret. Hot and sticky as it made its way down my throat, seeping from those that never said goodbye, those that never said 'I love you,' and the ones that left the bitterest taste in my mouth and veins: those that never said 'I'm sorry'. Their souls would ooze out like thick tar, oily and unwilling to move, looking for the smallest window to slip back into the body. But it was always too late. If I was there, that meant it was too late.

I try to make it better for them, I really do. I whisper sweet nothings in their minds, reminding them of the good times they've had and the good they've done if any. In significant contrast to my sister, I'd help emanate that last, rattling breath as painlessly as possible.

Sometimes though, circumstances prevent me from doing my best. You see, I can't swim. So, anything to do with large bodies of water would not be an ideal situation. I am sorry to any who had been in water their last moments – I tried my best.

There were few who went willingly. Those were the ones that brought a smile to my stiff face. We called them the Good Ones.

They had loved and cried, hurt, and forgiven.

Sometimes their lives were not very long but they were always happy in the end.

Today's client was a Good One. She was in the ICU when I was summoned. Car accident, I was told. She was only twenty-three. Hit by a drunk driver who died on the spot. He had been a gang member who'd raped and killed several little girls. I feel relieved I didn't have him assigned to me.

I swallowed against the bitter hospital smell that lingered in the back of my throat and turned my attention to her. Tangled up in a mesh of wires, she lay on the hospital bed; her eyes were fluttering in confusion. I was a little early. Her father's hand cocooned her frail fingers, keeping them warm. The brown waves cascading past her shoulders were being smoothed by her mother's shaking hands as silent tears dripped down her face.

I held her free hand and spoke quietly in her mind. "Hey, Rose." I used the nickname I'd plucked from her father's mind to make her more comfortable. "I'm here to help you; it's going to be okay." I could feel her unease at my words intruding on her thoughts.

"Who are you?" she mumbled back. Good question. I could tumble into an existential crisis right now if I thought

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too deeply about that question, so I stick to a standard reply. "I'm a friend. I came to take you to a better place."

"Y..you mean... It's time for me to go?"

I nodded gravely. Suddenly, the heart monitor wired to her chest started oing wild and I knew it was time. I had to get her out before the nurses got here.

"Come, Rose." I tugged on her hand and her feathery soul slipped out easily. She turned to me with a bewildered look on her face. "How...how did you do that?"

"Well, it's kind of my job," I shrugged.

She nodded, and we both turned our attention to the flurry of activity stirring in the room. The nurses and doctors were there, and her parents were ushered out.

Her mom let out an agonized wail, making Rose wince.

"Mom..." she whispered, then turned to me, "Can I please say goodbye?"

I smiled sadly. "You can try." I hope I didn't seem too optimistic. Everyone wanted to say goodbye, after, but it never worked. It was just too late.

She nodded, letting go of my hand, and made her way through the people, trying very hard not to look at her body on the bed, jerking as the defibrillator shocked

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her dead heart.

I watched as she reached her parents who were now standing outside the ICU, looking in through the big glass pane. They were cuddled together as her father held her weeping mother, worry lines decorating his weary face. She stood in front of them and reached her arms out tentatively, wrapping them around both her parents in a last cuddle. They stood like that for a minute, her parents painfully unaware as Rose held them, a whispery white soul, visible to none but me.

Her words were so quiet I barely heard them. "Mom, remember that time I was six, and I fell off my first bicycle? It was only my second day without training wheels and I was so mad at you for letting go of the bike."

She looked up at her mom's face earnestly, "I was crying and throwing a perfect tantrum, flailing arms hitting you in the face. You picked me up, whispering a million 'I'm sorry' s. You carried me home and cleaned me then held me tight until I stopped crying."

Her mom continued to cry, silently now, tears dripping down her cheeks, as if she could hear her daughter. "I remember that day so well. I remember thinking, why is she kissing me? I hate her! She shouldn't have let me go! I was amazed, Mom. I was amazed by how much you loved me and continued to love me, day in and day out. I couldn't count on the sun shining every day, but I could count on your warmth lulling me to sleep every night.”

Her mom was the first to break the silence, barely stringing the words together, "Was that...?"

Her dad nodded earnestly, "Yes, yes I believe it was!"

Her mom let out a joyous cry. "Oh honey, we love you too. We always will." That was all she got to say before she broke down in her husband's arms. He looked up to the sky as he held her wife, "You can rest now, Rose.

We'll be okay, I promise."

I didn't realize I was crying until warm, salty liquid touched my lips. A red light on my watch told me we were pushing time. "Come on, kiddo."

Rose smiled and walked over to me. "Thank you for letting me do that," she said as she took my hand.

I shook my head. I held her hands and nudged her towards the sky, allowing her soul to rise to the planes above. I smiled.

"Thank you for making me see."

By Yohara Ranasinghe

"And Dad," she looked towards him, eyes sparkling so bright it made me wish with all my heart he would hear her, "I'll always remember the hugs you gave, every day after work, even if you were really tired. You were always the one I ran to when life was too hard, and you were always there, arms wide open, no matter how old I was." She rested her head on his shoulder, "Thank you, daddy."

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I could see her chest heave in a final sigh as she released her arms and stepped back. She smiled wiping her tear-stained cheeks and spoke quietly, "I love you both."

Dheenah Liyaudeen

Sanuga Nanayakkara Dulyana Jayathilake Keshiah Fernandez Amali Nelunika Dinara Gunathilake Senaya Muhandiram Jayath De Silva Yohara Ranasinghe Senan Alwis Harini De Silva Hasangee Gunasinghe

Her parents' faces jerked up. Confusion passed over their features as they looked at each other. Rose looked at me. I shook my head, my jaw falling open slightly. Did they just hear her?

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Sujayee Athukorala Aamna Eliyas 31

Creative Corner the cycle of tomorrow It is The thrill of what will be And the mystery of what could be

Look forth, my child, a new day awaits It's not yet long, so take cautious steps

What is the meaning behind your work?

It is a conversation between a person who is hung up on the past and a person who advices them to look forward to the next day Do you have any other hidden talents?

I love to sing and sculpt

When the day dies and the next ripens The cycle of elegant and sorrowful reminiscence Our vain wishes of the day completed begins to dance, once again with no inhibition

BY Dinara gunathillake (Level 03)

What is the meaning behind your work?

Beauty of wild flowers Do you have any other hidden talents?

Poetry and Creative Writing

Nisali Marasinghe (level 03)

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වගුරන දහදිය කදුලු කැට නිම් නැතී පුරවයි අගහිගකම් පොළවට සමවැදී දකිනවිට වැහැරී ගිය සිරුරෙන් ඔබ ඇතී වැටෙනා කඳුලු නුඹට සඟවන්නට හැකී කඳුලු රැදි දුක් හදේ නිතරෝම ගැවසෙන නමුදු සඟවා සිනා මවා පමණක්ම මටදෙන සෙනේ පවුරකි නුඹ කිසිදාක නොබිදෙන සෙනෙහසේ අරුතට සැමදා නුඹයි නියම පණදෙන

What is the meaning behind your work?

The hidden love for children in a father and its value is to make children in the father's life

නිර්ලෝභී සිනාවෙනි හැමදා අපට පන දෙන නොදුටු නෙත් මානයේ අප සොයා නුඹම එන අපේ සතුටට නුඹේ නිදහස සෑමදා ඔබ වැය කල සෙනෙහසේ පිය රජු නුඹයි සැමදා දරුවන්ට පෙම් කල සඳූ උපේක්ෂා (level 02)

What is the sculpture about?

The sculpture shows the cute, adorable and innocent side of love between lovers. do you have any other hidden talents?

I write poems and love to experiment with various forms of art.

By Dinara Gunathillake (:level 03)

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Flames

What is the meaning behind your work?

It's about different perspectives of the people in a society. A flame can be a beautiful thing to watch as it has bright colours which radiate warmth and diminish the chill, but individuals with immature minds will only see the scary side of it.

Likewise it depicts the different perspectives of various people of the same thing . . .

Do you have any other hidden talents?

I have a small collection of poems written by me .

Dusky edges of the sky, Sunken in the dark, Blazing in the dark art, Fire lit the vague path, Erupted flames sheds light, Radiant art of a kind mind, Warmth of the flames diminished chill, Which brought a grief to the animal heart, Yellow of the fire, Orange of the flames, Red of the dry leaves burnt to fire, Lightened the nature white in colour, Flames! a thrill passes through, Makes nothing but hearts sorrow, Trepidation spreads to the fiery flames, Forsaken minds set aside, Immature thoughts flutter to the mind, About flames which makes unkind, No one wills to touch the flame, Delicate feelings of hopelessness, Will see the flame as a flame.

By Hasini Sudara (level 02)

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The Missing Piece Little by little, I felt it more than ever. the cold, the warmth, and the wind How did I forget the view of my own utopia?

Somewhere in a corner of the once familiar twilight sky, I saw someone looking at me with glittering eyes. :-What are you?

A really bright star in all the darkness :-Are you mine?

Yes. You know it and you believe it. : -Do I like you?

No. You love me more than anyone. : -But you are not here anymore.

Perhaps.. who knows?

The stars are so beautiful because of a flower you don't see.

Could I be able to fade away your presence in my mind ever?

I just can't go on any more Tell me why I'm still holding on to you so tightly.

I held on tightly to your image inside me as it slowly became blurred.

I feel like I miss you.

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:-Who are you?

You know me better than anyone. :-Nooooo….. I'm gonna cry now.

We all grow up somewhere between crying loudly to seek attention and crying silently to avoid attention. : -I'm not a child to listen to those nonsensical things.

All adults were once children, but only a few of them remember it. :-Wait. I know you, and I have missed you.

Who hasn't? Everyone must have had a childhood .

Supun anjana (level 03)

What is the meaning behind your work?

It's about our childhood Do you have any other hidden talents?

I play basketball and futsal. I'm also great at Sinhala public speaking

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His Last Will Standing amidst a large forest, among other trees and bushes, is a tall oak tree, with squirrels, and birds nudging upon it.

His heart throbs so rapidly, In fear of demise.

His last will, “conserve my clan”, sails upon his ocean of thoughts.

The iron axes running through bloody veins, makes him suffer from agony.

But his heart was so strong, to tolerate this torment.

Where it tumbles down, With a noisy thud.

What is the meaning behind your work? depicts how a tree feels when it is chopped down Do you have any other hidden talents? writing

Make your desires bloom, but the tree has a life, listen to your heart, for tree is a human.

by Hasangee Gunasinghe (:level 03)

by Senaya muhandirum (:level 03)

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The Ocean Goddess Twixt the golden sand which burnt.

And blotched the delicate skin to red, Scorched and baked in the sun to a hearth, Ocean! The turquoise work of art.

Sand the most mighty, Sun god the tyranny, Streaks and beams of flower they sent, With gusto that never failed to rest, Goddess of ocean she never feared, Walking on the turquoise cover, She stared to the fiery flames, That burnt roaring to a massive fire,

What is the poem about?

I wrote this poem for my mother's birthday to place her on a pedestal and deify her to present her as a strong lady who emboldens me constantly and shows how she never gave up on anything due to her sheer determination.

What are your hidden talents?

Writing poems.

Doused, Mocked glow of her hope. blessed with the deified, She blew a wind to cool the fire, POWERFulL than a gale bringing EARTH the DEATH!

By Hasini Sudara (:level 02)

What is the meaning behind your work?

Its about a girl who left her lover because of her depression and meningitis and wanted him to have someone better.

She knew that she would die soon, so she left him to save him from grief.

Do you have any other hidden talents?

Still finding myself

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RThe untold love Your vivid image haunts me Your odor had left me hungry Tangled curly tresses frown at me But my heart knows the secret Your temple belongs to another virgin statue Not to a deceased Ophelia like me Never trample my dust or see my grave As the untold truth will haunt you everyday

By Janadhari Hapuarachchi (Level 02)

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An ode to her Nostalgic feeling when she isn't there Her hands running through my hair Oh god let me live and die on her heir Angels sing praise her by a choir When her diurnal convos faded I felt a bee sting my heart Don't let my mind forget you You conquered my soul You turned my caterpillar into butterflies Monochrome life twirled into vibrant shades Never don't let me down cutie

What is the meaning behind your work?

The poem is about a girls i love Do you have any other hidden talents?

I can read peoples minds and do magic

Nourished burnished flourished heart of yours Swirled my soul worst to best Butterflies swish around me whispering Hold her and don't let her lose your sighting

Green and Green

by insaf ifthikar (:level 03)

What is the drawing about? each plant has its own shade of green just like people. We group people according to their personality, appearance etc., but if you look closely, we all are unique and irreplaceable just like plants with different shades.

Oshadi Malshika (:level 02)

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Would you like your creation to appear on the magazine.

Send in your submissions to ccsgavelier@gmail.com

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