Motivation behind new invention

New Plex the wonder leg:

by Shanika Sriyananda

He was the brave among his friends. When the war turned deadly taking with it several lives of many youth he decided to join the army. The daily news reports about terrorist attacks, bombs, destruction and loss of innocent lives added more courage to start his new journey.

Born in the South, his first thoughts were his country. He wanted to contribute his mite to the armed forces to protect the sovereignty of the country.

This bright student, who left behind his studies, joined the Sri Lanka Army to fight the terrorists. When he came on holidays from the battle fields in the North and East he had lots of heroic tales to tell his friends about our soldiers, who vanquished the LTTE. The war stories inspired his friends as well to join the armed forces.

But one day this young hero, who was in the thick of Operation Riviresa V, came home on a wheel chair. A claymore mine had taken another toll. He had to live with his disability for the rest of his life. The young man, who had earlier proudly walked to all corners of the village telling heroic stories now confined himself to his room of course.

His friends were there to help him in his a chores.

Days turned to months and this young soldier Chandika Manopriya had to put up a real struggle to adjust to his new way of life - a life without a limb. Aruna Sajeewa Samarawickrama, Chandika's good friend, who saw the pain of one losing his leg, had a dream that could shed light to many. But he did not know then that his day dream of seeing his best friend walking again will became a reality.

But Aruna's dream took him to the international community. Today he is the proud recepient of the Silva Medal, which was awarded to him for his new product - the artificial leg with more flexibility- at the 35th International Inventors Competition held in Switzerland in 2005.

With no knowledge about science, being a commerce student of the Sariputta Maha Vidyalaya, Matara, Aruna's new invention was solely based on his imaginations. He first told about his blue print idea to a doctor who runs a dispensary in Dambulla who encouraged him a lot to experiment around. With his own research by reading about artificial limbs he first used iron rods and nuts found in the garage, where he worked to earn his living.

Life was not so rosy to this young inventor who was born to a middle class family and, who had to face the vicious circle of poverty due to the untimely death of his father at a very young age. The three boys in the family had to go through a lonely struggle as their mother went to the Middle east to make their lives better by working as a housemaid.

"I could not continue with my studies as I had to shoulder the responsibility as the eldest son in the family. I stopped doing A/Ls and started to work at a relative's bakery to earn money to educate my two younger brothers. We had a very hard time and can not remember the number of times we slept with empty stomachs", Aruna says. But his eyes sparkle now and grins talking about the present.

"Eththatama api thundena dan hondata innawa" (Really we lead better lives now) he says. His new invention, the flexible artificial leg, surely has taken him a long way than he expected. It has also brought fame to Sri Lanka.

Now Aruna is living in another dream; to see people without legs, walking comfortably wearing his artificial legs.

The speciality of his invention is that they are unlike the ones that are presently available in the market. With the 'New Plex' legs one can manoeuvre easily about. The ones that are sold in the market are not specially made for locals.

They are made to general specifications, says Aruna. "The normal legs are not designed according to different weights of people and because of this the legs find it difficult to move.

The sole of the New Plex leg can be replaced when it is wasted", he adds explaining that the New Plex is different, as he had taken into consideration these factors while designing the leg, which is adjustable.

Aruna's simple iron rod fixed artificial leg reached the final stages after several modifications. At last Aruna tested his novel product with his hero-friend Chandika. "It was the happiest moment in my life. He walked and walked. He was very happy.

Only then I realized the importance of having both legs and how the life of those who are without legs, can be changed with my new invention", Aruna says with his eyes gleaming.

Brimming with hope, amidst a huge demand for the New Plex leg from abroad, he still remains in Sri Lanka, still dreaming to create a way to help, as he says, "Mage Rate kakul nethi ayata" (My own people who have lost legs).

He is now awaiting help from the state or the private sector to set up his own factory to manufacture artificial limbs, which he thinks can bring in huge amount of foreign exchange to the country. " I can sell this leg for Rs. 100,000 to our own people. I have received so many offers from abroad and could sell them at the same price to the world market", Aruna points out.

Thanking Deshamanya Lalith Kotelawela for his timely help Aruna says that this dream may become a reality, on the day that he is able to complete the manufacture of the New Plex leg, which is still stored in his cupboard wrapped in a stocking cloth as he is unable to buy the expensive raw material from China.

"This skin-like material is the closest to the human skin. I also need to purchase titanium or carbon fibre for the mould. I need the support to buy these things", he says.

Aruna says that he can prove that losing a leg is something one need not worry about any more because the New Plex leg brings new light to their lives. "They should not be isolated from the rest of the world. This new leg can be used while doing sports. I tested it with disabled soldiers and they said that they can play comfortably without feeling any difference during sports".

This young man from the south is looking forward to the D_Day in his life, when he receives his award as the Young Inventor of the country shortly from President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

"Once I start manufacturing artificial limbs I would gift the first product to Chandika, who was the inspiration behind the New Plex. I wanted to launch a special program for our war heroes, where they could get artificial legs free-of-charge", Aruna says.

[email protected]