Electrical, Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering Sectional Committee  (EETESC) of IESL, under the direction of its Chairman, Eng. Chamil Edirimuni partnered with the Biomedical Engineering group of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (DEEE) of Faculty of Engineering of University of Peradeniya to restore dysfunctional ventilators as a part of a project initiated jointly by the University of Peradeniya and National Institute of Fundamental Studies (NIFS).

When the virus was rapidly spreading across the world, ventilators were hard to import or purchase from suppliers, thereby the restoration of dysfunctional ventilators had emerged as a practical engineering solution to strengthen the country’s health sector’s capacity to treat COVID 19 patients whose conditions are critical. Supported by the experience and expertise, Biomedical Engineering group of DEEE together with the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Peradeniya volunteered to assist the nation in need by undertaking this task. The first batch of 12 ventilators restored under this project were handed over to the Ministry of Health on April 11, 2020 at the DEEE premises.

The project team was composed of a group of experts in Biomedical Engineering in DEEE and the Department of Anaesthesiology & Critical Care of the University of Peradeniya together with the technical staff and graduate students of DEEE, a group of IESL corporate members who are past graduates of DEEE and several medical professionals from Peradeniya Teaching Hospital. The team was able to complete the restoration of 12 units within a mere 10 days, displaying their commitment and expertise. The team continued to work on the restoration project while working on the design of a new ventilator.

  The ventilator handing over ceremony was graced by Dr. Amal Harsha De Silva – Deputy Director General of Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services Ministry in the presence of  Prof. Upul B.Dissanayake, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Peradeniya, Prof. Saman Senaweera Director of NIFS, Dr. Arjuna Thilakarathne, Provincial Director of Health, the Deans of the faculties of Engineering and Medicine Prof. Gemunu Herath and Prof. Asiri Abeyagunawardena,  Head of the DEEE, Prof. Manjula Fernando and the team of volunteers who worked on the project. Eng. Chamil Edirimuni, Chairman of Electrical, Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering Sectional Committee of the IESL attended the event representing IESL. Further, representatives from co-sponsors, Ceylex Engineering Pvt., Ltd, Lanka Oxygen Pvt., Ltd, and E/94, E/04, E/05, E/10 Batches of the faculty of engineering also participated.