SLAMM, an annual tradition shared by the five Rotaract Clubs of the University of Colombo, is a thrilling and captivating scavenger hunt. The acronym represents the five faculties of the university: Science, Law, Arts, Management, and Medicine. However, this year, a special collaboration with the Rotaract Club of the Faculty of Indigenous Medicine added an exciting twist to the project. With a storyline centered around a warm climate invasion by the Devil and the opening of a portal to Hell, participants embarked on a mission to locate and close the portal.
කොළඹ විශ්ව විද්යාලයේ රොටරැක්ට් සමාජ පහ විසින් වාර්ෂිකව සංවිධානය වන SLAMM යනු සිත් ඇදගන්නා සුළු හා ආකර්ශනීය වැඩසටහනකි. සංක්ෂිප්තයෙන් විශ්ව විද්යාලයේ පීඨ පහ නියෝජනය කරයි: විද්යාව, නීතිය, කලා, කළමනාකරණය සහ වෛද්ය විද්යාව. කෙසේ වෙතත්, මෙම වසරේ, දේශීය වෛද්ය පීඨයේ රොටරැක්ට් සමාජය සමඟ විශේෂ සහයෝගීතාවයක් මෙම ව්යාපෘතියට ආකර්ෂණීය පෙරළියක් එක් කළේය. යක්ෂයා දේශගුණය ආක්රමණය කිරීමේ හා නිරයට ද්වාරයක් විවර වීමේ කතා වස්තුවක් පාදක කොටගෙන ගොඩනැගුණු තරඟයේ, සහභාගිවන්නන් එම ද්වාරය සොයා සහ වසා දැමීමේ මෙහෙයුමක් පවරා තිබුණි.
SLAMM, கொழும்பு பல்கலைக்கழகத்தின் ஐந்து ரோட்ராக்ட் கிளப்களால் பகிரப்படும் வருடாந்திர பாரம்பரியம், ஒரு சிலிர்ப்பான மற்றும் வசீகரிக்கும் வேட்டையாகும். சுருக்கமானது பல்கலைக்கழகத்தின் ஐந்து பீடங்களைக் குறிக்கிறது: அறிவியல், சட்டம், கலை, முகாணைத்துவம் மற்றும் மருத்துவம். எவ்வாறாயினும், இந்த ஆண்டு, சுதேச மருத்துவ பீடத்தின் ரொட்டராக்ட் கிளப் உடனான சிறப்பு ஒத்துழைப்பு திட்டத்திற்கு ஒரு அற்புதமான திருப்பத்தை சேர்த்தது. டெவில் ஒரு சூடான காலநிலை படையெடுப்பு மற்றும் நரகத்திற்கான ஒரு போர்ட்டலைத் திறப்பதை மையமாகக் கொண்ட ஒரு கதைக்களத்துடன், பங்கேற்பாளர்கள் போர்ட்டலைக் கண்டுபிடித்து மூடுவதற்கான ஒரு பணியை மேற்கொண்டனர்.
This year’s SLAMM took place within the university premises, transforming the campus into a vibrant playground for fellowship and competition. The event was chaired by the Presidents-Elect and Secretary-Elects before they officially began their terms. SLAMM served as an avenue for Rotaractors within the University of Colombo to extend their fellowship beyond their respective faculties and engage in a series of thrilling challenges.
The participants embarked on an exhilarating journey as they were guided through the university premises, encountering a variety of games and riddles along the way. Teams, led by coordinators, consisted of 5-6 members who worked together to tackle each task. The hunt kicked off with a group picture in front of the official SLAMM’23 banner, signaling the start of the race against time. The Science Faculty was the first stop on their adventure.
At the Science Faculty, the game officially commenced after participants completed their registration and formed their teams. The challenge involved using strings to transport a plastic ball across a designated car park and place it inside a plastic cup. Successful completion of the task revealed a clue hidden within the cup, along with Rs. 200, which covered the bus fare for two members of the team to travel to the next destination, the Faculty of Medicine.
While the two members embarked on their bus journey to the Medical Faculty, the remaining team members proceeded to engage in games organized by the Faculty of Management & Finance. The Faculty of Management & Finance’s game had a poetic twist, with clues leading teams to various locations within the faculty. As teams successfully uncovered three clues, they faced a crossword puzzle that would reveal the final clue, guiding them to the next destination—the Faculty of Arts.
The Faculty of Arts awaited the teams with a unique challenge: passing marbles. Team members had to work together to pass five marbles from one cup to another within a given time limit. Successfully completing the task provided them with the next clue—”Awula.” At the “Awula” location, participants had to create a question using a set of words to unlock the next clue. The question “Which is the building with the most stories?” led them to the Library, where they had to decipher the next clue.
The Faculty of Indigenous Medicine hosted the next game, which involved unlocking a word with six letters. To reveal the letters and receive the next clue, teams had to complete a flip bottle challenge successfully. Each correct flip allowed them to uncover a letter. Once all the letters were revealed, the secret word “THEMIS” emerged. THEMIS, the goddess of justice, law, and order, led the teams to their next destination—the Faculty of Law.
The Faculty of Law served as the final game venue and the location where the key to the portal was hidden. Participants who successfully solved the riddle of “THEMIS” had to locate the map hidden within the Faculty of Law. Following the map’s directions, they discovered relevant clues that ultimately led them to the final destination. The team that solved each level’s clues correctly and found the key was to be declared the winners of SLAMM’23.
Throughout the game, participants faced challenges and occasionally required clues. To receive these clues, they had three chances to complete dares, such as the rabbit jump, singing a song without breathing through the nose, or acting out a proposal. These dares added an extra element of excitement and camaraderie to the event.
With the participation of over 40 enthusiastic contestants and the support of the organizing clubs’ executive committee, SLAMM’23 concluded successfully on May 30, 2023. Team Red emerged victorious, claiming the title of the winning team.
SLAMM remains an evolving club service initiative jointly organized by the six Rotaract Clubs of the University of Colombo. Each year, the project grows more innovative, interactive, and engaging. By providing an opportunity for members from various faculties to connect, build friendships, and experience a physical fellowship event, SLAMM offers a welcome escape from the demanding academic life of university students. The project received overwhelmingly positive feedback, highlighting the meticulous attention to detail in each game, the captivating storyline, and the enduring fellowship and friendships forged among the participants.
SLAMM’23 proved to be an unforgettable adventure that united Rotaractors from diverse backgrounds, fostering teamwork, camaraderie, and a shared sense of purpose. As the University of Colombo Rotaract Clubs looks to the future, they are inspired to continue evolving SLAMM, ensuring it remains a cherished tradition that brings joy, excitement, and lasting connections to all those involved.
Written By:-
Rtr. Melisha Gonaduwa
(Co-Director – Professional Development – 2022-23)
Written By:-
Rtr. Vishvi Wijethunga
(Co-Director – Community Service – 2022-23)
