104th Annual Sessions of the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka (IESL)

by  Rohan Mathes

Greetings, smiles, eloquent speeches, introductions and handshakes  were  galore once again when   The Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka (IESL), the apex body of the engineering fraternity of the land,  ceremonially inaugurated their 104th  Annual Sessions, at a  ceremony  filled with much pomp and pageantry,  inclusive of cultural entertainment,  at the Waters Edge, Capital City, on October 21..

The  President-Elect and Officiating President Eng. (Prof.)   A.K.W. Jayawardane, was  ceremonially inducted as the new President of the IESL,  for session 2010/2011, at this colorful event, which  was graced by the Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne.  Minister of Power and Energy Patali Champika Ranawaka,   Minister of Petroleum Industries Susil Premajayantha and Minister of  Irrigation and Water Resources Management Nimal Siripala de Silva,  also  participated and addressed the august gathering, which consisted  of  Diplomats, Secretaries of Ministries, Heads of Departments, foreign delegates  and distinguished invitees from all walks of life. Emeritus Professor of Civil Engineering, University of Calgary, Canada, Prof. Robert E. Loov, delivered the key note address. The Welcome and Presidential address was made by Eng. (Prof.) A.K.W. Jayawardane, while  the ‘Vote of Thanks’ was given by President-Elect 2010/2011, Eng. (Brig.)  Ananda Ranasinghe. 

More to the presentation of awards to the winners of the ‘Junior Inventor of the Year’ (JIY) competition, other certificates and mementoes, the Chairman of the JIY competition Steering Committee Eng. J. Meegoda  was feted in recognition of his  yeoman service  rendered to the JIY competition, within the past years.

Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka was conferred a ‘Honorary Fellow Membership’, in recognition of his invaluable services to the nation, in the sphere of engineering. 
 
Holding  the prestigious and gala event, this year,  in the afternoon,  to enhance member participation from the Provinces, et al, was a significant feature and a deviation from the norm.

The Symposium based on the theme “Post Conflict Development Strategies for Sri Lanka”,  was high on the agenda and was held on October 23rd (Saturday), at the Hotel Taj Samudra. This  timely theme had been deliberately selected  to divert the attention of all stake holders, the Engineers in particular, towards the  mega development projects underway, in the aftermath of peace and tranquility, in our  once troubled ‘Motherland’. 

The IESL’s entire membership  was fully determined and enthusiastic to rally round the Government and offer their optimum services to uplift the living standards of  their Motherland, regardless of  any ethnic, religious or regional divide, in the mega infrastructure development projects island wide, in the sectors of Road  and Rail Transport, Highways, Power and Energy, Telecommunications, Health, Agriculture, Housing, Education, Irrigation and Water Resources, among others. The deliberations  reached at this Symposium, will undoubtedly go a long way and play  a dominant and onerous role in their implementation  stages.

The IESL’s  ‘Annual Field Visit’ was made to the Polgolla Barrage and the Ukuwela Power Station, on  October 24 (Sunday),  leaving lingering and nostalgic memories.

The ‘Presentation of Papers’  by participants  from the industry, universities and other organizations associated with research,  was held on October 25 and 26,  followed by
the Presentation of Papers by ‘Young Members’ , on October 29,  at the IESL.

The ‘Award Winners’ of the grand ‘silver jubilee’ Techno exhibition-2010, held at the BMICH, prior to the annual sessions, on October 8, 9 and 10, were felicitated at a  glamorous and star-studded  ‘Techno Awards Ceremony’,  on October 28,  at the Hotel Galadari.