Southern Province hosts largest ever engineering exhibition at Ruhuna University

• Cultural performances, magic shows, musical performances, and engineering art galleries will provide entertainment alongside knowledge-sharing activities

By Mangala Pavithrani

The Engineering Faculty at the Ruhuna University, the only state engineering faculty in Sri Lanka’s Southern Province, is celebrating its 25th anniversary with the grand REXTRO-2025 Engineering Exhibition from 5th to 7th December 2025. The event will be held at the faculty premises in Hapugala, Galle, from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm daily.   

Established in 1999, the Faculty of Engineering has grown from an initial batch of 100 students to currently enrolling around 550 students annually. Over the past 25 years, it has produced approximately 4,000 engineers and offers five degree programmes, including Civil and Environmental Engineering, Electrical and Information Engineering, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Marine Engineering and Naval Architecture, and Computer Engineering.   

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Dean Professor Chaminda Karunasena said, “REXTRO-2025 is more than just an exhibition. It is a celebration of 25 years of knowledge and innovation. We aim to educate students, professionals, and entrepreneurs about new trends in engineering science and technology while showcasing our research and products.”   

The exhibition will feature 47 main zones with over 400 projects, including innovations in artificial intelligence, robotics, environmental solutions, and industrial applications. Public and private engineering sectors, as well as the Air Force and Navy engineering departments, will participate.   

Professor Thushara Chaminda, Chairman of the Media and Publication Committee of the Silver Jubilee Celebrations, highlighted that the exhibition will also include zones for AI technology, computer games, innovation, and industrial engagement, providing visitors opportunities to interact with engineering companies and explore entrepreneurial paths.   

In addition to the exhibition, visitors can enjoy competitions such as robot design, drone technology, water rocket design, rover design, math challenges, and technical debates. Pre-qualification rounds at school level will allow students’ creations to be showcased at REXTRO-2025. Cultural performances, magic shows, musical performances, and engineering art galleries will provide entertainment alongside knowledge-sharing activities.   

Entry is free for children up to Grade 5, with a fee of Rs. 100 for school students and Rs. 200 for the general public. Facilities including parking and food stalls will be available for visitors. Wijeya Newspapers Limited is the media sponsor of the event.