“Some doors open with a creak; others burst open with the roar of a storm. Both lead to unforgettable
horizons of growth.”
The thing about Gavel is, when an opportunity comes your way, like a sudden gust of wind, you must be
swift to grab it. That’s exactly what happened on April 17th, 2024, when GV Shenuka, our VP-Education,
asked me if I’d like to be one of the Co-chairs of Oration 2024. I knew it was Gavel UOC’s flagship
project for 2023/24, but beyond that, I had little idea what I was signing up for. Needless to say, GV
Shenuka’s promise of a chill yet exciting journey sealed the deal for me. What I didn’t know, or
reasonably expect – was that this “chill” journey would transform into one of the most intense yet
fulfilling experiences of my time at the Gavel Club.
Oration 2024 was no ordinary project—it was an Intra-University Public Speaking competition that
demanded a balance of creativity, management, and most importantly, teamwork. From late night
meetings to mid lecture calls, Oration enveloped all of our schedules, testing our endurance in more ways than one. So, let me take you behind the scenes of Oration 2024, where the real story unfolded.
Following several days lined with interviews to select the team that would be spearheading this project,
we were left with a remarkable group of 30 well-deserving individuals, spanning the 5 faculties in Reid
Avenue, as our Organising Committee. Naturally, our first OC meeting had to be held online, as the
majority of our OC members, hailing from UCSC and the Faculty of Science, were on holiday. So there
we were, myself, jittery with nerves, and my very seasoned accomplice, Co-Chair GV Yunal, radiating
calm confidence as we began piecing together the blueprint for what would become Oration 2024.
The Preliminary Rounds of Oration 2024 began with full force as we opened up registrations for video
submissions. The Exco and OC went collectively insane trying to rack up the number of registrations,
begging, pleading and enticing the undergraduates of UOC, known and unknown, to participate.
However, we were hit with the unexpected hurdle of navigating a three-month long closure of the
University, which landed right smack in the middle of our project timeline, and making it impossible to
hold any official events or meetings in university. But forging on nonetheless, we organized a key
milestone in the project, the Workshop on Public Speaking amidst everything, which turned out to be far
more impactful than I had anticipated, thanks to the impressive turnout.
I remember feeling really satisfied after the workshop because it was the first time in Gavel that I
experienced the feeling of having made an impact on others. With that milestone behind us, we shifted
our focus entirely to the fast-approaching semifinals.
Since we had not yet met with the OC in person, the level of engagement within the team felt less than
optimal. But thankfully, we saw an opportunity when Gavel held an Avurudu-themed meeting! GV Yunal
and I jumped on the chance to turn it into our first physical meeting with the OC, where we got to know
each other and discussed how to approach the next steps. Afterward, we joined the Avurudu festivities,
bonding over physical games, and naturally, some friendly rivalry. The meeting also became a great
moment to encourage more registrations, with everyone from the ExCo down to the OC, pleading for
more sign-ups.
During this time, the finance team was hustling non-stop—making phone calls, visiting companies across
Colombo, and facing rejection after rejection, but they never gave up. The challenge of finding sponsors
seemed like an uphill battle, with progress constantly feeling out of reach. Meanwhile, the PR team
worked tirelessly, rolling out posts about extended deadlines and keeping the buzz alive about Oration.
Their efforts paid off with a final count of 30 registrations— more than we had expected.
Once registration closed, we shifted our attention to the judging rounds. Judges received 30 video
submissions and selected the top 12. Meanwhile, the OC scrambled to secure all the logistics for the
semifinals. We were fortunate to find a suitable venue at First Friends Campus, who graciously provided
us with a cozy lecture hall to host the event. As the semifinals drew near, the delegates were hard at
work—sending messages, drafting emails, and scheduling everything meticulously to ensure the event
would run smoothly.
The evening before the semifinals, we held our second OC meeting to iron out the final details. We were
determined to make our first physical milestone flawless. I remember how after the meeting, we let loose
with some physical activities to release the excitement. One of the games was a dance challenge where
you had to mimic the moves of the person behind you—by the end, it turned into a hilarious and slightly
embarrassing spectacle, but it bonded us in a way that made the whole project feel like a group of friends working together for a common cause!
Finally, the day of the semifinals arrived, and personally for me, it was a whirlwind of emotions. Things that we feared would go wrong somehow went right, and other things we hadn’t expected to go smoothly did just that. The OC came together to set up, and the event kicked off with the briefing, and the speeches began. Admittedly, listening to the semi-finalists, comprising seasoned speakers and new talents was a deeply inspiring experience, which I’m sure, left everyone in awe. The results that came not long after, highlighted the remarkable growth and dedication of the speakers, with the excited finalists walking away with a sense of accomplishment, while others carried valuable feedback and the determination to grow further. As the day drew to a close, we began packing up, with GV Yunal offering cookies as a small token of appreciation for everyone’s hard work. Amidst the shared moments of encouragement and gratitude, a sense of pride settled over us—a fitting end to a truly incredible day.
The aftermath of the Semi-finals was the usual group chat explosion, where we teased each other about
every little detail and the Logistics team lead, GV Ranuga, was always the center of our banter. I
begrudgingly admit, his Batman references and occasional patriarchal side comments (in irony, just to rile everyone up) provided endless entertainment. The teasing continued through sticker wars, inside jokes, and lighthearted jabs that reflected how through every victory or obstacle, there was one constant: the incredible camaraderie within the OC.
With the Semifinals behind us, it was time to focus on the grand finale, and things got intensely serious.
The logistics team was running around Pettah to get everything we needed, trophies were purchased,
refreshments were ordered, and it felt less like a mere public speaking competition and more like a
massive project that we were pouring our hearts into. The finalists were announced, and we strengthened our efforts to secure sponsors. Just when things felt bleak, we decided to take matters into our own hands and launched a spontaneous fundraiser—selling stickers. It was a last-minute move, courtesy of the resourceful Finance team, but surprisingly, it worked like magic, helping us cover a chunk of our expenses.
Meanwhile, the delegates were making WhatsApp groups and coordinating details with the finalists,
while the editorial team worked tirelessly to keep up with content. Despite last-minute challenges, criticisms, and unexpected setbacks, their commitment was visible, and made me stop and think countless times about how I appreciated each and every one of them.
Eventually, we secured a platinum sponsor, in addition to the original
workshop sponsor (underlined). We were over the moon with excitement! With the venue secured, thanks to the Faculty of Medicine’s generous support, we went to the location the day before the finals to set everything up. It was a fun, lighthearted experience, unlike any other Club experience I had had so far. I spent some time with the MCs rehearsing, while others worked on decorations. Throughout the prep, the team at UCSC somehow always ended up both the initiators and recipients of our endless jokes, adding an unforgettable layer of fun to the project.
Something I will always keep with me would be how in the evening, before heading home, we gathered at the P&S across the street for one last moment of calm before the big day. The ExCo and OC seamlessly blended together, their distinction fading into friendship as we chatted about everything, from our favorite K-dramas (which some of us loudly proclaimed were cringe), to how desperately we all needed a break. Yet, beneath the camaraderie, the nerves were real. This we saw in how we worked late into the night as well, sending voice notes and messages to the roleplayers to ensure everything turned out well.
And then, the day of the grand finale dawned, buzzing with excitement and anticipation. The Mini
Auditorium at the Faculty of Medicine was set to host an event we had spent months planning. The
agenda was packed, and though a few hiccups, like an unexpected outpour of rain, threatened to derail
us, everything came together beautifully (if I may say so, myself!).
The event began with opening remarks, followed by the lighting of the oil lamp and the national anthem,
marking a ceremonious start to what would be a day to remember. The President, GV Vinupa’s warm
welcome speech energized the audience, leading seamlessly into the next segment. The atmosphere
shifted as DTM Yogendraprasath Sathiyaseelan, our esteemed Chief Guest, took the stage, delivering an
inspiring and thought-provoking address that set the tone for the event.
The highlight of the day was, of course, the finalists’ speeches! The sheer talent and dedication of the six
finalists were evident in every word they spoke. Each one was a masterpiece, reflecting the depth,
creativity, and brilliance of the speakers. From tales of courage to heartwarming stories of personal
growth, the audience was captivated, in my eyes, and the judges had an unenviable task of deciding the
winners.
As Co-Chairs, GV Yunal and I had our moment to address the audience, a bittersweet reflection on a culmination of months of effort, emotions, and teamwork. Then, the awards ceremony that followed was electric—each name called brought cheers and applause, as the winners’ joy lit up the room. The winners were crowned:
● Champion:Naethree Premnath
● 1stRunner-Up: Mindu Hapangama
● 2ndRunner-UpandMostPopular Speaker: Thisumi Hettiaarachchige
Seeing the winners beam with pride and joy after their names were announced was a reminder of the
profound impact this platform had on their journeys.
Finally, the vote of thanks and closing remarks brought the event to an official end. However, for the OC,
the day didn’t quite end there. Behind the scenes, we hustled to ensure everything ran smoothly, but the
camaraderie and shared sense of achievement made it all worthwhile.
One of my most memorable moments was when the entire OC was outside the event hall, while official photographs were being clicked, laughing, snacking, and reminiscing about the journey of the Grand Finals. It felt less like a formal project milestone, and more like a group of friends ribbing after an assignment, about how each one performed. Finally, we took a big group photo to mark the conclusion of a truly momentous (yet tumultuous) journey. It was again, a moment I will never forget, filled with the satisfaction of knowing we’d pulled off something bigger than ourselves, together.
133 days have passed since the grand finale of Oration 2024, and this article, long overdue, is my attempt to finally put into words the remarkable experience that still lingers in my heart. Looking back, I can’t help but smile at the whirlwind of laughter, late-night planning, and moments of triumph and loss that defined this journey.
To the Gavel Club, I owe not just the opportunity to lead, but the privilege of being part of something that
felt truly special to myself and numerous others—something that will always remain my north star in the
galaxy of unforgettable experiences.
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