ENGINEERING NEWS Established 1906 The Newspaper of The Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka Vol. 47, No 09, September / October 2012 Registered at the GPO as a Newspaper No. QD/86 /NEWS/2011 Inauguration of the 106th Annual Sessions of the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka he 106th Annual Sessions of the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka (IESL) was ceremonially inaugurated by Hon. Palitha Fernando, PC, Attorney General of Sri Lanka at the BMICH on 19TH Oct 2012, Friday at 9.00 am in the presence of a large gathering of distinguished invitees, Past Presidents and members of the IESL. T The inaugural sessions in October of each year Eng.Tilak De Silva, symbolizes the beginning of a new one-year-period under President of the Institution a new Council and President of the IESL and the of Engineers, Sri Lanka simultaneous concluding of business of the previous (IESL) for the 2012/2013 Council and presidency. This year Eng. Tilak De Silva took Sessions over the mantle of Presidency of the IESL for the 2012/2013 he inauguration of the sessions from Eng. (Dr.) 106th Annual Sessions Ananda Ranasinghe, the Tof the Institution of incumbent President for the Engineers, Sri Lanka (IESL), 2011/2012 sessions. A held on19thOctober, 2012 at special write-up on the new the BMICH was also the President is included in the occasion when Eng. Tilak De The Chief Guest being received by Eng. (Dr.) Ananda boxed area within this article. Silva, an Electronics and Ranasinghe, the incumbent President of IESL Telecommunications Contd. on page 5... The IESL is the premier body Engineer took over the for the engineering Presidency of the IESL, as profession in the country. It its 107th President, for the has a membership of about 2012/2013 Sessions. 12,000 belonging to all disciplines of engineering. Eng. Tilak De Silva, currently the IESL membership for The IESL Council headed by the Chief Executive Officer of providing him the opportunity its President and elected Sri Lanka Telecom - Hong to lead the institution also from among its members for Kong and Advisor to the CEO, pledged to serve the a one year period, guides Sri Lanka Telecom on institution as best as he the activities of the Technology Strategies hails could. He declared institution. They are from Panadura and has “ ….. IESL is our house and assisted by various humble beginnings in the keeping it in good shape is committees appointed for village of Pinwatta. His father our responsibility.” He said achievement of objectives was a government servant. that his vision is to serve the keeping in-line with the He attended Sri Sumangala country better through the vision and the mission of the College, Panadura and membership of the institution institution for the relevant obtained his graduate degree The Chief Guest addressing the audience and to use Information and session. in Electronics & Telecommunication Communication Technology Engineering from the (ICT) to bring the institution University of Moratuwa in closer to its members. He 1983 and his MSc in Data mentioned as his objectives Find information, Forms, Pay membership fees, etc. Communications from the the making of the institution more accessible to its http://www.iesl.lk Brunel University, UK in 2002. Eng. Tilak De Silva joined the members, to be an IESL in 1992 and became a enthusiastic stakeholder in Fellow in 1999 and has the framing of sound and served in the IESL Council sustainable infrastructure, for almost 15 yrs in various industrial and technology Provide direct feedback to the President policy for Sri Lanka, providing http://ieslpresident.blogspot.com/ capacities including 3 consecutive years as Vice leadership President before being Contd. on page 15... elected as President Elect The Institution of Engineers for the 2011/2012 Sessions. Learn from public lectures and other media Sri Lanka http://www.iesl.lk/iesl_Multimedia_Portal.html He is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and 120/15, Wijerama Mawatha, Technology, UK, Chartered 7, Sri Lanka. Engineer of the Engineering Tel: 2685490, 2698426,2699210 For fast breaking news, follow IESL in Twitter Council, UK, Fellow and Fax: 2699202 @iesllanka Chartered IT Professional of E.mail: [email protected] / [email protected] the British Computer Society Website: http://www.iesl.lk and Member of the Institution of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, USA. In this Issue IESL is now on Face Book, become a fan of IESL In his inaugural speech the National Engineering and new President while Technology Exhibition...... 3 Installation ceremony of IESL expressing his gratitude to Toastmasters’ Club...... 4 Editorial...... 4 Sri Lanka Engineering News - September / October 2012 2 IESL NEWS

Farewell Note to Outgoing Editor – SLEN, Eng. Lakshitha Weerasinghe

Eng. Lakshitha Weerasinghe, who served as Editor SLEN since Oct. 2004, has handed over the reins of editorship to Eng. (Dr.) U.P. Nawagamuwa with effect from Oct 2012. The IESL Council couldn’t dissuade him, this time, from his decision to devote more time and energy to his other interests. His tenure was marked by rare challenges and tenacity he demonstrated in handling them. Barely a month into its editorship, unprecedented devastations to infrastructure in the coastal areas of the country by a Tsunami demanded due attention of the SLEN, which Eng. Lakshitha Weerasinghe provided comprehensively. He brought in interesting features such as the Puzzle Corner, Picture of the Month and Humor Column which added spice to break the monotony of the mainly engineering contents of the SLEN. He also introduced a regular full color front page to SLEN to enhance the appearance. While wishing him well in his future endeavors the Editorial Board and staff of the IESL Secretariat will miss his guidance and overall influence in the entire process of publishing the SLEN. So will undoubtedly the readership.

AWARENESS PROGRAMME STRSTRSTRUCTURAL STEEL AND ON PRACTICAL GUIDELINES REINFORCED CONCRETE ON BASIC AIR CONDITIONING DESIGN COURSES SYSTEMS DESIGN conducted by 1) Based on BS - 5950 & BS 8110 THE INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS, 2) Course duration : Two Months – SRI LANKA

(8 Weekend Classes) For whom The technical personnel who are 3) Course Context engaged in the building services field Steel Concrete Resource Persons Eng. Chandana Dalugoda and panel

a)Design of beam a)Design of slabs Venue The Institution of Engineers, Sri b)Design of column b)Design of Beam Lanka, 120/15, Wijerama Mawatha, c)Design of connections c)Design of Columns Colombo 7. d)Design of foundations Duration & Time From 0900 – 1600 hrs (eight consecutive Saturdays) including pile foundation commencing on 15 December 2012 Course Fee SLR 22,000/- for IESL members 4) Commencement of course : First week of and SLR 25,000/- for non-members December 2012 (Inclusive of course materials, lunch 5) Course suited for : Practicing Engineers and refreshments) Application forms could be obtained from the EE&T 6) Venue : In Colombo Division of the IESL & IESL website. The duly filled “Application form” needs to be sent to the IESL For registration please contact : before 10 December 2012. Tel : 0777 – 666149, 4934266, DIRECTOR Education, Examination & Training Division. E-mail : [email protected] Tel. : 0112 698426 Ext. 209/210/211 Fax : 2 699202 E-mail : [email protected] Sri Lanka Engineering News - September / October 2012 IESL NEWS 3 NATIONAL ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY EXHIBITION - 2012

echno 2012, the National Engineering T and Technology Exhibition organized by the IESL was held during the 12th, 13th and 14th October 2012. It was declared open on 12th Friday, October 2012 at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Memorial Exhibition Centre (BMICH) by Hon. Basil Rajapakse, Minister of Economic Development and Hon. Wimal Weerawansa, Minister of Construction, Engineering Services, Eng. Tilak De Silva – President IESL, Session 2012/ VVIPs and IESL Officials at the Inaugural Ceremony. Housing & Common 2013 and Chairman Techno -2012, welcoming the Amenities. This was the Guest of Honour - Hon. Wimal Weerawansa, 27th consecutive year that Minister of Construction, Engineering Services, this exhibition was held with Housing & Common Amenities wide participation from the industry and state sector organizations displaying the latest technologies they could offer. It is the largest engineering and technology exhibition with a display of engineering products, technologies, innovations and best practices from around the world under one roof.

Over 200 stall holders from various sectors in the industry, educational institutions, Government Past Presidents – IESL, Council Members – IESL and Guest of Honour - Hon. Wimal Weerawansa, Minister Departments, etc. used this Invitees at the Inaugural Ceremony of Construction, Engineering Services, Housing & year’s exhibition as a Common Amenities addressing the gathering platform variously for gaining a foot hold in the vendor chains of lucrative development projects, to establish Business to Business contacts, to explore investment opportunities, to get to know cutting edge knowledge, etc. during the three days it was held with record public participation.

The exhibition featured among other things, future & present ongoing projects in Sri Lanka, Junior Inventor Exhibits, the IESL Engineering Pavilion,the Chief Guest, Hon. Basil Rajapakse - Minister of Eng. Tilak De Silva - Chairman Techno -2012 and Engineering Clinic, Economic Development, opening the National President Elect - IESL, presenting an IESL displaying of cutting edge Engineering & Technology Exhibition- 2012 Publication to Chief Guest - Hon . Basil Rajapakse, technologies, Workshops & Minister of Economic Development at the IESL Stall. Seminars, Customer presentations, Technical presentations, etc. As was the tradition the Techno Exhibition was followed by the Techno Awards Ceremony held on 2nd Nov. 2012 at the Grand Ball Room, Hotel Galadari. Stalls judged as having the best display, best display of local products, best demonstration, best display of engineering services, most innovative, with the highest technological impact and displaying the best local product at the Techno 2012 The Chief Guest and the Guest of Honour at the Visitors at the National Engineering & Technology exhibition were awarded Mobitel stall along with Mr. Lalith de Silva – CEO, Exhibition - 2012 trophies and certificates. Mobitel (Pvt) Ltd Sri Lanka Engineering News - September / October 2012 4 IESL NEWS

Sri Lanka Installation ceremony ofofof IESL TTToastmasters’s’s’ Engineering News ClubClubClub Editor’s Message 2012/ 2013

ith this Sept-Oct SLEN, I will W undertake with pleasure and gratitude the editorship of SLEN, and I relish the challenges and opportunities it offers. I look forward to continuing and building on the outstanding work of my predecessor, Eng. Lakshitha Weerasinghe, and the many other visionary and skilful people involved in creating this SLEN and guiding its development since its inception.

The President in his inaugural speech said that he will use ICT (information and communications technology) as the means to take the Institution to its Members. At a time when there is a huge out cry for better services and value creation through IESL, appropriate use of enabling ICT could be what the doctor prescribed. Today we have more than 11,000 members worldwide. We still fill paper A part of Club Officers of IESL Toastmasters Club with Guests forms, we use snail mail to communicate, we have a L to R; Lalith Pallegame (Sergeant at Arms), Rasika Gunathilake CC (Treasurer), Susil cumbersome process of getting through the professional Hewawasam CC (VP Public Relations), Mahesh Amarasiri ACB (President), Eng. (Dr.) (Brig.) review process, we continue to mail news letters spending Ananda Ranasinghe (President of The Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka 2011/ 2012 session) money including to overseas members who get that Eng. (Prof.) Ananda Jayawardane (Vice Chancellor, University of Moratuwa ), Manjula information three months later, we force our provincial members to come to Colombo to listen to lectures when Samarasinghe CC (VP Membership), Raniska Wimalasena (VP Education), Seeli Gunasekara traveling is costly and time consuming, we mail our ballot CC (Secretary). he Toastmasters'' Club papers to overseas members knowing very well they will of Institution of never get them on time (almost like keeping them away Engineers, Sri Lanka except for collecting their dues), etc. The list can be a lot T (IESL) held its 9th Installation longer and shameful for an organization that calls itself and Induction Ceremony at the apex body for Engineers in Sri Lanka. Well, we can the Wimalasurendra call it that, but no one believes it and will not until we Auditorium of IESL on 08th begin to take the Institution to the members where ever September, 2012. Chief they are using appropriate ICT so they don’t feel left out. Guest was Dr. Ananda Ranasinghe, (President of On the other hand, attempts to harness technologies such IESL 2011/2012), and Guest as Internet, Cloud Computing, integrated management of Honour was Mr. W.K.H. information systems, video conferring, multi media portals, Wegapitiya, (Group etc. bring plenty of governance challenges that must be Chairman of Laugfs deal with through professionals in the field. Holdings). Prof. Ananda Jayawardane (Vice To address both of those aspects - using ICT as an Chancellor of University of enabling force and governance of it — we have already Moratuwa), Maj. Douglas taken many initiatives in the past few months that are Wijesinghe (Mentor, IESL separately discussed and elaborated in an article titled Toastmasters Club), M Z ''Connecting IESL with its members - Beginnings of a Saleem DTM, Lalith Digital journey'' by Eng. Arjuna Manamperi in the page Kahatapitiya DTM, and eleven (11) . The most important strategic initiative taken many other distinguished up by the newly elected council has been been the setting guests and eminent up of the first ever ICT Committee to guide the President Toastmasters from other and the Council on ICT strategy and governance. All clubs graced the occasion. matters related to ICT will be channeled through this new Committee whose Chair reports directly to the President Immediate past president of and the Council. It is a very determined step towards the IESL Toastmasters Club A. future. U. N. Niyaz CC, CL, welcomed the Chief Guest However, without the required organizational process Dr. Ananda Ranasinghe, to changes and attitude changes on the part of the Council, the occasion; while, Guest of the staff, and the members, ICT investments will become Honour Mr. W.K.H. mere white elephants as it has been in the past. So, taking around the world having fortnight for about two hours. Wegapitiya, was welcomed a lesson from the business world, we must re-engineer more than 280,000 Each meeting provides an by President Elect to IESL where applicable and market the “benefits” of ICT and not members. TMI, which is in opportunity to practice in Toastmasters Club, Mahesh the technology or the features. It is this element that the operation since 1924, is a public speaking by giving Amarasiri, ACB President and the Council is held accountable for. The ICT non-profit educational impromptu speeches, Committee is the professional group which will guide organisation. Maintaining of presenting prepared Since 2004, the IESL them. In unison, the President and the Council must be a friendly and helpful speeches, and offering Toastmasters Club provides the change agent of IESL. They must walk the talk. They environment is a salient constructive evaluations. mutually supportive and should be the first to use on-line membership payment feature of all educational positive learning environment facility, or any other ICT initiative. sessions conducted by all From experienced for its members in public clubs under TMI. IESL professionals to beginners in speaking and leadership I would always welcome your suggestions to improve the Toastmasters Club is the career can gain immense development, that is quality of the SLEN and please do send your articles and 5th club established in Sri benefits from our practical, essential to take up present suggestions to [email protected]. Lanka out of 70, and this face-to-face learning day challenges. The club is brings various disciplines programs which are ranging affiliated to the Toastmasters Thank you. together, and the club is from high level business International (TMI) based in Udeni P. Nawagamuwa made up of close to 40 meetings to day-to-day California, USA with over [email protected] members who meet once in common public speaking. 13,500 clubs in 116 countries Contd. on page 15... Sri Lanka Engineering News - September / October 2012 IESL NEWS 5

Contd. from page 1... Inauguration of the 106th Annual Sessions....

Eng.(Dr.)Ananda Ranasinghe in his welcome address traced the history of the IESL from its inception in 1906, as the then Engineering Association of Ceylon, in the North Central Province to its current status of being the premier professional body for the engineering profession in the country with a membership of almost 12,000 with IESL Centres in every province, Student Chapters in the universities of Moratuwa,Peradeniya, Ruhuna and the Open University of Sri Lanka and the first Overseas Chapter in New South Wales, Australia.He described the achievements of the last sessions as essentially consolidating and building on the policies of the previous sessions and briefed on the progresses made towards establishing the Eng. (Dr.) Ananda Ranasinghe, incumbent President, IESL Engineering Council Act for Eng. Tilak De Silva, President, IESL for the 2012/2013 session making his inaugural Presidential Address delivering the welcome and Presidential address regulating the engineering profession, interactions with Policy Makers as regards policy matters that impact the profession, the establishment of an independent IESL College of Engineering for provision of engineering education, Continues Professional Development programmes , Provision of accreditation services, infrastructure developments of the institution, membership services, encouragement for innovation and creativity among young Eng. (Prof.) Amal Kumarage making the Keynote Speech engineers and school children, Those at the headtable at the inauguration etc. The Chief Guest, Hon. Palitha Fernando, PC, Attoney General of Sri Lanka, in his address described the role of the Engineers in the country’s development as immeasurable. Referring to a point made by the Eng. (Dr.) Ananda Ranasinghe in his speech that the Engineering Council Act which is important for regulating the profession still lying with the Legal Draftsman , Hon. Palitha Fernando assured Eng. Tilak De Silva being inducted as President, IESL for the that he will do whatever is Prof. A. K. W. Jayawardane, Immediate Past President, IESL 2012 / 2013 sessions by the incumbent President, IESL Eng. necessary for the required rules (Dr.) Ananda Ranasinghe being presented a medallion by the Chief Guest in apprecia- to be expeditiously brought in. tion of his service during the 2010/2011 sessions

The inaugural session also kept to its tradition of presenting awards for best performances in various spheres of engineering in order to encourage pursuit of excellence in the profession. Thus the E.O.E Pereira Award for the best technical paper presented at the Annual Sessions 2011, the IESL Award for the best technical paper by a Corporate Member that appeared in the ‘Engineer’ Journal, the best Master K. P.D.A.C. Kapuge of Mihintale Maha Vidyalaya technical paper on ‘Water’ as a The E. O. E. Pereira Award for the best technical paper receiving the Junior Inventor of the Year (JIY) 2012 Title theme,the Migara Ranatunga presented at the Annual Sessions 2011 being awarded Award Trust Award for the best Undergraduate Industrial Training Projects, the best inventions in the Junior Inventor of the Year competition, etc. were some of those awards. A special feature at this year’s Inaugural Sessions was the presentation of Engineering Excellence Awards for Organization engaged in the field of engineering. Some of the leading organizations in the field in Sri Lanka received awards in their particular sectors. Engineering Excellence Award, 2012 for Organisations being A section of the audience at the inauguration presented by the Chief Guest Sri Lanka Engineering News - September / October 2012 6 IESL NEWS Techno Awards Ceremony-2012

Eng. (Dr.) Ananda Ranasinghe - Chief Guest and the President Eng. Tilak De Silva – President IESL – Session 2012/ 2013 and IESL – Session 2011/ 2012 - addressing the gathering Chairman Techno -2012 addressing the gathering

Stall displaying the Most Innovative Local Products – Gold Award Stall displaying the Product with the Highest Social Impact – being presented to E-Gravity Solutions (Pvt) Limited by Eng. Gold Award being presented to Samson Engineers (Pvt) Ltd by (Prof.) (Mrs.) N Rathnayake – Vice President IESL , accompanied Eng. J. Meegoda – Vice President – IESL, accompanied by Eng. by Eng. (Dr.) U P Nawagamuwa – Council Member IESL. M G Hemachandra – Council Member – IESL

Stall with the Best Display of Imported Products – Gold Award Stall with the Best Display of Imported Products – Silver Award being presented to Siemens Ltd by Eng. Tilak De Silva - being presented to Richardson Projects (Pvt) Ltd by Eng. Tilak President – IESL Session 2012/ 2013 & Chairman Techno 2012, De Silva – President – IESL Session 2012/ 2013 and Techno accompanied by Eng. Mangala Silva – Council Member - IESL Chairman accompanied by Eng. Mangala Silva – Council Member – IESL

Council Members and invitees at the Awards Ceremony Sway Dance Troupe entertaining the invitees at the Techno Award Ceremony-2012 Sri Lanka Engineering News - September / October 2012 IESL NEWS 7

Eng. D J Wimalasurendra Telco's to be a SMART Player or LEAN Memorial Lecture operator by 2020 he 138th birth anniversary of Late Eng. D J by Eng. H.L Sunil, Wimalasurendra was commemorated at the IESL C.Eng. MIE (SL). PG.Dip.DBFA(SL). MBA (USQ-AUS), Ton 17th September 2012 with a memorial lecture Deputy General Manager; on “Sri Lanka Power Sector – Achievements & Challenges” Project Portfolio Management, delivered by Eng. Ranjith Gunawardena, Additional Sri Lanka Telecom PLC Secretary, Ministry of Power & Energy, Past President, are capturing new revenue Management, Application, IESL. Pictorials of the ceremony follows : streams.Further this study Relationship, and highlighted CSP’s exposure to Technology) players by lobal communication 2020. This is a challenge is evolved through wider spectrum of risks which are dynamic in priorities. It that encourages CSPs to Ghigh speed global grab emerging business shows that it is very important networks created on optical opportunities in evolution of fibers. Network for CSPs to understand and visualize these risks and product and services transformation to broadband based on broadband &new and reorganizing business manage them effectively and also CSP’s have to find ways technology. Further these model is the major drive of researches highlighted Communication Service and means to address the diminishing voice revenue that most CSP’s having Provider (CSP) in present larger workforce, operates context of evolution of without further delay. Also it is a fact; at present fixed-line service would be communication industry. facing major enterprise risk In respect to the evolution CSPs are in the act of provisioning broadband pipes on its human resource President, IESL 2011/2012 Sessions Eng. (Dr.) Ananda various research management if they delay Ranasinghe garlanding the portrait of Late Eng. D. J. investing huge amount of organizations have done to visualize future Wimalasurendra research & analysis on CAPEX by transforming its technological platforms. This strategies. Becoming a communication industry, SMART player is not that highlighted issues and future initiative will facilitate CSPs in providing connectivity for OTT easy a task. Achieving the risks on CSP’s towards the task of delivering end-to- year 2020. The analysis has who would aggregate contents & content developers, end quality service shown trend in CSP’s experienced and valued by revenue on voice applications, other service providers by integrating the consumers is important. communication is Therefore placing diminishing, consumer’s offers through Internet to fixed devices and mobile devices. appropriate strategies, preferences are on various leadership and allocating services based on broadband One suggested way for CSPs is to find new business models resources to address the & Internet offered by Over- facts would succeed. The-Top (OTT) players who by way of developing strategies to become SMART (Service, Contd. on page 15.... President, IESL 2011/ 2012 Session welcoming the audience

Memorial Lecture being delivered by Eng. Ranjith Gunawardena, Past President, IESL

Eng. Ranjith Gunawardena being presented a Token of Appreciation

Section of the audience including family members of Late Eng. D. J. Wimalasurendra Sri Lanka Engineering News - September / October 2012 8 IESL NEWS

14th, 15th, 16th December 2012

The 2nd International Conference on “Sustainable Built Environment 2012” will be held at Earl’s Regency Hotel, Kandy, Sri Lanka, following on the very successful conferences in 2010 & 2011. The Conference will run over three days and feature presentations by authors of all accepted papers, as well as keynote lecturers. General and plenary session will be accompanied by workshops and technical sessions. Accepted papers will be published in a special volume of the conference proceeding with an International Standard Book Number (ISBN).

Message from Co-Chairs Programme on 14th December

New Development needs a new wave of innovation to drive dramatic reductions in environmental impacts while sustaining economic growth and improving social 4.30pm Opening Ceremony outcomes. The 2nd International Conference on Sustainable Built Environment 4.40pm Lighting of the Traditional Oil Lamp (ICSBE-2012) – sate of the art, brings together academics, students, other 4.45pm Welcome Address Prof. Ranjith Dissanayake University of Peradeniya researchers and practitioners from Sri Lanka and overseas to exchange ideas and 5.05pm Address by the Chief Guest experience on their recent research in all areas of sustainable built infrastructure. As 5.15pm Technical Session awareness of climate change, natural disasters, diminishing natural resources and Keynote Lectures energy costs increases, the demand for sustainable design and construction is 5.20pm increasing at an unprecedented rate. Participants will attend high quality 6.10pm Presentation by the sponsor presentations related to those areas by scientist representing both industry and 6.25pm Keynote Lectures Prof. Thishan Jayasinghe University of Moratuwa academia. 7.15pm Closing Remarks 7.30pm Dinner This conference represents a unique opportunity for meeting colleagues and friends, exchanging ideas, and those about research development work. The Programme on 15th ,16th December support of Institution of Engineers Sri lanka (IESL) is deeply appreciated. We must also express our sincere thanks to all who contributed their time and great effort to Prof. Priyan Mendis 9.00am Five Parallel sessions University of Melbourne make the conference possible. Our special thanks to the organizing committee. We would also like to thank all the reviewers of papers, whose reviews have been very 10.20am Tea Break important to maintain the quality of the conference. 10.45am Keynote Lecture Session 12.00pm Lunch Break The Conference will deliver an awesome volume of information on sustainability 1.00pm Five Parallel sessions Eng. Shiromal Fernando initiatives in all building sectors from around the globe, with up to 5 sessions from Green Building Council of Sri Lanka a diversity of focus groups and organizations presenting their latest findings. We 2.35pm Tea Break would like to invite participants from all sectors, private and public, to join this 3.00pm Five Parallel sessions th th important conference from 14 to 16 December. This event promises to be an 4.50pm End of the day incredible and rewarding experience.

Prof. Janaka Ruwanpura University of Calgary Keynote Speakers

Prof. C.M. Madduma Bandara Prof. Makarand Hastak Prof. S.W. Garrity Prof. Hiroki Yamaguchi Mr. Martijn Schildkamp University of Peradeniya Purdue University University of Leeds Saitama University Director, Smart Shelter Consultancy Sri Lanka USA England Japan Netherland

Prof. Nimal Rajapaksa Prof. Mohan Kumaraswamy Dr. Naveed Anwar Prof. Buddhima Indraratna Prof. Dharma Wijewickreme Simon Fraser University University of Hong Kong CEO/ AIT Consulting University of Wollongong University of British Colombia, Canada Hong Kong Thailand Australia USA

Organized by In Collaboration with

Faculty of Engineering Faculty of Engineering Engineers Without Borders Science and Technology Faculty of Engineering Faculty of Engineering Schulich School of Engineering Society of Structural Sir John International Institute University of Peradeniya University of Moratuwa University of Melbourne Green Building Council of University of Ruhuna Sri Lanka Research Partnership Sri Lanka University of Calgary Engineers Kotelawala Defence for Infrastructure Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Australia Sri Lanka Canada for Sustainable Sri Lanka University Sri Lanka Renewal and Reconstruction Development Program Contacts for Registration Registration fees

Eng. Amal Peiris Eng. Shyanaka Dananjaya Mr. Namal Wickramasinghe Conference Manager Conference Secretary Conference Coordinator Local Participants Rs.15,000 Email: [email protected] Tel: +94 71 8071759, Tel: +94 77 1094137 Tel: +94 714436367 +94 77 1094139 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Fax: 081-4476797 Fax: 081-4476797 Web: www.icsbe.org Web: www.icsbe.org Principal sponsor of the ICSBE2012 Sri Lanka Engineering News - September / October 2012 IESL NEWS 9

14th, 15th, 16th December 2012 Special Sessions

Water and Waste Management Held on 15th December Organized by

Science and Technology Research Partnership There will be a special session which will be carry out as parallel session on the International Conference on for Sustainable Development Program Sustainable Built Environments. It will provide a special forum for researchers in the area of Water and Waste Management to share their knowledge and research findings. Special Session Chairs Themes of the Special Session Saitama University Japan Dr. Gemunu Herath Prof. Norio Tanaka Solid Waste Management University of Peradeniya Saitama University Supported by Waste and waste water management Sri Lanka Japan Urban Water and Wastewater Management Global warming, climatic change, rising sea levels, etc.

Japan Society for the Sustainable Landfill Technology Promotion of Science Geo environmental sustainability Geo- informatics for environmental modeling and analysis

Faculty of Engineering University of Peradeniya Sri Lanka

Held on 16th December Engineers Without Borders Organized by

There will be a special session on Engineers Without Borders which will be carried out as parallel session on the

International Conference on Sustainable Built Environments –The state of the art. Engineers Without Borders Sri Lanka Engineers Without Borders (Sri Lanka) Engineers without Borders Sri Lanka works with disadvantaged communities in Sri lanka to uplift their living Technology challenging poverty

standards, through education and implementation of sustainable engineering projects. Practical Action Sri Lanka

Theme of the special session Special session Chairs Engineered community projects. Prof. Ranjith Dissanayake Dr. Shameen Jinadhasa University of Peradeniya University of Peradeniya Engineers Without Borders Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Australia

Disaster Management Held on 16th December Organized by

There will be a special session which will be carry out as a parallel session on the International Conference on Sustainable Built Environment. It will provide a special forum for researchers in the area of Disaster Management to share their knowledge and research findings. In Collaboration with Special Session Chair Themes of the Special Session Hazard mitigation, emergency response and recovery planing Prof. Janaka Ruwanpura Faculty of Engineering Social-economic strategies for disaster risk reduction Convener University of Peradeniya Sri Lanka Social vulnerability IIIRR (University of Calgary, Canada) Database and data models development Transportation systems Critical infrastructure Information systems

Natural and technological (Natech) disaster University of Moratuwa Sri Lanka Principal sponsor of the ICSBE2012 Sri Lanka Engineering News - September / October 2012 10 IESL NEWS

Deshabandu Vidya M1—The Pioneering Brush- Jyothi Eng. (Dr.) A N S BagnallLocomotive Kulasinghe Memorial & its Impact on Sri Lanka and Lecture Beyond he 93rd birth anniversary of the Late Deshabandu Vidya Jyothi Eng. (Dr.) A. N. S. Kulasinghe was commemorated by Eng. D U L Peeligama by the IESL on 25th October 2012 with a memorial lecture T MIE(Sri Lanka) on “Monetization of Reserves – The Path to a Petroleum Economy” delivered by Mr. Saliya Wickramasuriya, Director General – Petroleum Resources Development Secretariat. The video recording of the full lecture could be accessed through the Multimedia Portal of the IESL website www.iesl.lk. Pictorials Unfortunately though, follow: shortly after completion of the Ceylon order, the partnership between Brush and Bagnall ended and diesel locomotive production continued under the Brush name only.

The railways of Ceylon presented arduous operating conditions for any locomotive, with 1 in 44 gradients, altitudes of over 6,000 feet, and short radius reverse curveson a broad (Photo- Richard Gennis, 2007. Sourced-http:// gauge of 5ft 6ins. This was President, IESL, 2011/ 2012 Session Eng. (Dr.) Ananda www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=220968&nseq=25) amidst Ceylon’s hot and Ranasinghe making the welcome address humid tropical weather, and uch has been said 25 in number and classified as salt laden air in the coastal and written about the M1s under the Ceylon areas. Additionally, Mthe M1 Government Railway locomotive designers Locomotive, Sri Lanka’s classification, were delivered would be taxed to the limit pioneering main line diesel. between the years 1952 to of their ability having to It is not the intent here to 1954. accommodate machinery regurgitate oft-repeated to cope with these facts; much information on The locomotives were of a conditions within the the M1 has been stated handsome design, with short confines of rolling stock and discussed at length by noses at either end and port measuring no more than more informed writers over hole windows set in the body those on the Indian metre the years. This article sides and were somewhat gauge. Before the advent of attempts to trace the reminiscent of Electro the M1s, Ceylon did have impact of the M1, not just Motive’s legendary E Units; some experience of diesel on the advent of diesels on the first truly main line diesel traction with the Sri Lanka’s railways, but on locomotives anywhere, experimental Armstrong the main line diesel scene released in the US more than Whitworth twin diesels of Mr. Saliya Wickramasuriya delivering the Memorial Lecture of Britain’s railways as a decade and a half earlier. An 1933, the English Electric well. Nevertheless, it is attractive dark maroon livery railcars of 1938 & 1947, and inevitable for some had been applied after arrival the North British shunters information to be in Ceylon and the locomotives of 1952. reiterated. presented an impressive exterior. Brush-Bagnall had Way back in 1950, at the equipped the M1s with time when Crown Agents At the time when Brush- Mirrlees JVS12T engines, placed orders for main line Bagnall were constructing the originally designed for diesel locomotives for M1s, Britain’s railways had no marine use but Ceylon (as Sri Lanka was major experience of main line subsequently, adapted for then known), the firm of diesel operation. British Rail rail traction. Their marine Brush had never had just been formed in 1948, heritage was evident in the constructed main line after nationalisation of the big large con-rod big ends diesel locomotives before. four groups of private railways. which precluded piston True enough, they had It is to be stated that the LMS assembly retrieval via the experience of diesel (London Midland & Scottish cylinder bores and the cam Mr. Saliya Wickramasuriya being presented a Token of shunting locomotives, of Railway) in association with box design which had Appreciation by President, IESL2011/ 2012 Session which a number had been English Electric, had ventured provision for twin cam sets built, both for domestic use out with the two main line as generally required in in the UK and for export. diesels, Numbers 10,000 & marine propulsion for direct Brush had teamed up with 10,001, which arrived just after engine reversal. The W G Bagnall& Co, a nationalisation. But these engines had been de-rated manufacturer of steam were more or less from 1,250 bhp to 1,000 locomotives, in the mid- experimental units, and bhp for operating under the 1940s. The partnership of cannot in any way be conditions of Ceylon. Brush-Bagnall was only a considered as truly successful few years old when the operational main line diesels. That the M1s initially Ceylon order came English Electric themselves suffered from a host of through, and it is said that had circa 1949, built a few defects is no surprise they proceeded to set up main line diesel electric considering they were a workshop facilities from the locomotives for the railways of pioneering and ground advance paid by the India and Brazil. Apart from breaking venture. Much of Ceylon Government. The these limited ventures, no these have been rest of course is history. British manufacturer had any documented in detail The locomotives, totalling main line diesel experience. A Section of the audience at the Memorial Lecture Contd. on page 15.... Sri Lanka Engineering News - September / October 2012 IESL NEWS 11

Annual General Meeting Connecting IESL with it's members - Beginnings of a digital journey by Eng. Arjuna Manamperi Chairman, ICT Committee [email protected]

members to be elected benefit of the members and members. It is filled with ICT the Secretariat. Following are professionals who are not some key ICT enabled just technically savvy but services that are already in also practicing leaders in the place. field who have strong experiences in organizational (A) IESL Website: http:// change management as www.iesl.lk ver the recent years, well. It has an appointed For all purposes, members there is a member Chair who reports to the should make it a practice to The Outgoing President's Speech being delivered by Oout cry, even at the President and the Council come to this website at least Eng. (Dr.) Ananda Ranasinghe recently concluded AGM, no and four members selected once a day. The website has one could ignore it. "What are by the Chair and ratified by been completely overhauled the benefits of becoming a the Council. Additional to make it user friendly. It has member? What is going on members will be recruited as six major areas: at the institution? How does work content increases. An the Council make decisions interesting feature of the 1. Main Menu Bar: Right at and what are they working committee is that its Chair the top is the menu giving on? Why don't members has the right to recruit two links to all the Contacts receive better / timely experts, at any given time, (phone numbers, emails) at services through the from the field who may not the IESL, About IESL Secretariat? How can young be members of the institution (history, by laws, how it members contribute, join the but are well regarded leaders operates, etc) and the Image Council? Why is the in the ICT community. This Gallery. However, more institution not making use of is essentially to tap into the importantly a link to the newly the vast body of knowledge burgeoning technical know created President's Blog is and experience among its how in the market and to reap in place where you can diaspora members? Why do The new President, IESL being adorned the 'Chain of the benefits for the IESL and provide direct input to the Office' by the outgoing President members have to come to it's members. In a nut shell President and the Council. Colombo for everything?" the ICT Committee has two We urge you to make the etc. The issue was overarching goals: best use of it to provide your highlighted at the AGM when feedback from anywhere in the members came to know (1) Governance of all ICT the world. Now you are only a about the massive drop in related matters at IESL as click away from making your their numbers over the past we make ICT the main voice heard. few years - close to 20%! medium that bridges the Secretariat, the Council, 2. Banner Adds below the Being a veteran at the and the Members in the main menu bar, scrolling Council, the newly long run. This includes across, highlighting special inaugurated President, Eng. creation of an ICT Vision, events such as public Tilak De Silva was keying on establishment of long and lectures, newly launched this need for transparency short term objectives, services, major and service excellence at creation of annual budget, announcements, etc. Once The Inaugural speech of the new President being IESL.. During his inaugural establishment of security you take a look at the overall delivered speech, he said that during policies, recommendations adds in few seconds, you can the year 2012-2013 he would on ICT investments to the click the link provided in a use information and Council, hiring of ICT staff, specific add to find more communication overall supervision of ICT details. technology (ICT) to bring the projects and service institution to its members! providers, etc. 3. Today's Events & Tidbits which is below the banner Why not! Today engineers (2) Implement variety of adds and to the left of the young and old are equipped ICT solutions that would middle portion showcase, in with one or more computers, connect, provide, and a vertically scrolling bill Internet connectivity, mobile service the members 365 board, any events (lectures, phones capable of rapid days x 24 hrs irrespective meetings, etc.) scheduled for communication (and even of their geographic the day and links to capable of replacing locations. This includes the interesting places within the computers to a great extent), implementation of a fully website (tidbits) note pads, etc. So why not integrated management use this digital highway which information system, use of 4. Four Service Portals; Those at the headtable of the AGM is now literally available multimedia and broadband Members,Society, anywhere in the country and communications technology Education, and Multi Media the world to connect all of us; to provide rich content to are prominently displayed in NEWS FROM THE PROVINCES the institute, it's members, members, reduction and the center. If you want to find and the society and eventual elimination of all the any information related to Await in the next issue SLEN stakeholders that we serve. paper work to create hundred Membership (forms, fees, Why don't we set an percent digital online examinations, provincial example! services to members, center information, etc) it is The IESL provides island wide coverage of its services to creation of secure online inside that portal. With this its membership through IESL Provincial Centers in all The work has already begun! digital document feature, one does not have to the provinces. Many of these Provincial Centres have al- During the Council meetings depositories and forums to waste time to come to the held in November 2012, the ready held their Annual General Meetings and the ap- provide maximum head office or call multiple first ever ICT Committee transparency, etc. parties in the Secretariat as. pointment of fresh Executive Committees under new Chair- was established. This is a information is only a click men for their new Sessions while others are expected to special committee that is In the past three months or away. Society portal has follow suit. The SLEN will give prominence to these events operational in nature and it's so, even prior to the creation information about public and the new office bearers starting with its next issue. terms of references (TOR) do of the ICT Committee, much events like Techno and not require the need for its work has been done for the Contd. on page 14.... Sri Lanka Engineering News - September / October 2012 12 IESL NEWS Annual Sessions Seminar on “Dispute Resolution in the Construction Industry in Sri Lanka”

Eng. (Dr.) Ananda Ranasinghe, incumbent President, Mr. Shavindra Fernando, Deputy Solicitor General IESL making the Welcome Address delivering the Keynote Address

Dr. Harsha Cabraal, President's Counsel speaking on Mr. Arjuna Obeysekera, Actg. Deputy Solicitor 'Dispute Resolution Vis-a-Vis Mitigation General presenting Selected Case Studies on Arbitration in Sri Lanka

A token of appreciation being presented to the Capt. M. G. Kularatne, Chairman and Managing Eng. (Dr.) Mervyn Gunasekera by Eng. (Dr.) Ananda Director, Maga Engineering (Pvt) Ltd. being presented Ranasinghe, incumbent President, IESL a Token of Appreciation by Eng. (Dr.) Ananda Ranasinghe incumbent President, IESL

Eng. B. V. D. N. Chandrasiri being presented a Token of A section of the audience at the seminar Appreciation by immediate Past President, IESL Sri Lanka Engineering News - September / October 2012 IESL NEWS 13

Prof. E O E Pereira SRI LANKAN ROBOTICS CHALLENGE

Memorial Lecture Reported by Ms. S Sandamali Devadithya, th he IESL commemorated the 105 birth anniversary of ‘Project Secretary’. Late Prof. E O E Pereira, Father of Engineering TEducation in Sri Lanka, on 13th September 2012 with a Student Member - 140093. memorial lecture on ‘Challenges Facing Public Universities he E-club of University of Moratuwa proudly presents, “Sri in Sri Lanka” delivered by Eng. (Dr.) Nihal Somaratna, Senior Lankan Robotics Challenge” in collaboration with ‘Techfest Lecturer – Dept. of Civil Engineering, University of Peradeniya. T- International Robotics Challenge 2013’. This will not be The video recording of the full lecture could be accessesed just another robot competition, but provide the platform to the through the Multimedia Portal of the IESL website: tech savvy youth of the country to demonstrate their skills in an www.iesl.lk. Pictorials of the ceremony follows : international standard robotics competition. This trailblazing initiative would rightfully be one of the highlights in the technology calendar of Sri Lanka not just this year but for the years to come.

President, IESL Eng. (Dr.) Ananda Ranasinghe, President Elect, IESL, Eng. Tilak De Silva and Eng. (Dr.) Nihal Somaratna of the head table.

With flavors of Mechanical and technology among the children an opportunity to Challenges and Swarm masses. The “International work alongside ’s Intelligence, SLRC 2012 will Robotics Challenge” is a best. Among the next focus on two major events: Techfest initiative with the generation, there truly exist Transformers under the vision of providing a common young intellectuals eager to University Category and platform to budding talents feel the atmosphere of a Tyrobots under the School around the world to match national level robot President Elect, IESL delivering the welcome address Category. their wits in an International competition in order to be This grand event will be held arena. The qualifying rounds inspired to get their hands on the 13th of December for IRC will be held wet with new and emerging 2012, at the Department of concurrently in all technologies. They need to Electronic and participating countries - be properly guided, Telecommunication Bangladesh, Egypt, motivated and inspired so Engineering, University of Indonesia, Pakistan, Sri they will harness the skills Moratuwa. Lanka, Thailand, UAE, and necessary to become the host country India. champions one day. What University of Moratuwa, being Winners of each of these else would provide the ideal the country’s leading higher country legs will get direct platform than the Sri Lankan education institute for entry into International Robotics Challenge to engineering, has been Robotics Challenge Grand achieve such great heights? monumental in introducing Finale which will be held cutting-edge technological This form of a national level during Techfest at IIT competition had been lacking Eng. (Dr.) Nihal Somaratna delivering the Memorial Lecture events to the local Bombay. Any International community throughout the in the Sri Lankan field of team, who missed the technology until now. The years. Alongside Department opportunity to participate in of Electronic and initiative by the E-club of the the national levels of IRC can Department of Electronic and Telecommunication also participate in the Engineering, it has been a Telecommunication International Robotics Engineering at University of key partner in organizing the Challenge through the IRC Sri Lankan leg of Techfest, Moratuwa speaks out to all Open (International) which the young tech-minds to face previously held under the title will also be held at Techfest “iNexus”, a very familiar event challenges in their much 2013, India. The Grand interested field of robotics. to our robot lovers island Finale of IRC will be an event wide. We invite all of you to come where the best in each take part and witness this University Category- country will meet head on to grand and spectacular event. prove their technological Transformers For SLRC details and Eng. Wasalabandara, Chairman Civil Engineering Sectional supremacy. registration please Committee of IESL proposing the Vote of Thanks. This exciting and thrilling This grand event, held for the visit: www.mrt.ac.lk/ event will be open to 16th consecutive time will be competitions/slrc candidates from all witnessed by thousands of For further information on universities island wide and technological enthusiasts IRC please winners will get the from 3rd to 5th January 2013, visit: www.techfest.org/ opportunity to participate in at IIT Bombay and all the home/event/IRC ‘Techfest-International winners will be entitled to Facebook Robotics Challenge- 2013’, prizes worth INR 450,000 in page: www.facebook.com/ which will be held in Mumbai, total. UoM.SLRC India. School Category- For any queries email us In the 15 years since its at: [email protected] Tyrobots inception, Techfest has Or call us, Tharindu: stayed true to its motto of Tyrobots will be launched for 0718019923 Section of the audience spreading the best of science the 1st time to provide school Sri Lanka Engineering News - September / October 2012 14 IESL NEWS

From a trainee’s diary Contd. from page 11... Connecting IESL by: Pasan Pethiyagode, Student Member of IESL competitions. Education portal covers CPD activities, the Department of Electrical Engineering, newly created IESL College of Engineering, etc. Multimedia University of Moratuwa. portal has pre recorded digital versions of public lectures, memorial lectures, other world class lectures, IESL media events etc. This is a great service to members who are unable hen the sun is about to sink in the deep blue sea, the to attend in person or those who are residing in far away scenery is undoubtedly magnificent, at the Galle Face. locations. Typically a lecture is posted to the Multimedia On my way back from Colombo port, an undefined feeling W portal two to three work days after an event. drove me to the Galle Face beach. The bench is comfortable enough to rest myself, and let my mind float on the waves of 5. Quick Links is available to the left of the home page right imagination. I hear kids breaking into laughter, seeing their under Today's Events & Tidbits. This is your place when you sandcastles survive from the waves. They may not have the are in a hurry. You want to pay membership fees online and slightest feeling that they are the future owners of this land. save time, find out who are the council members you want to contact, IESL holidays, IESL standing meetings, other critical Looking to the right, I see the Colombo South Harbor, the expansion project to increase information as they become available, are listed here. Don't the operating capacity of the Colombo port. Port industry has been accelerating its forget to look at the Membership Amnesty in place!! demarcations during the recent years, and is showing static growth. It is a well known fact that cargo handling at the ports creates a star in making profits. But it is also 6. SLEN and Journal: The monthly news letter and the worth trying to be green as much as possible. quarterly journal are placed at the bottom of the home page. Why kill a tree. Read them at your leisure. Please request A lump sum from our annual expenses as a country is for fuel oil imports. Though we the secretariat not to send your paper copy anymore. Act consume electricity, it is also a product generated using fuel oil, given the significance like a responsible, informed, environmentally conscious of contribution by thermal power in our electricity system. Expansions in our industries engineer! persuade more energy consumption, resulting in more emissions of greenhouse gases, and deteriorating the green future. But still, there are many technologies that could That's not all...... be adopted to minimize energy consumption. (B) Live Overseas Lectures: We have already begun Use of “regenerative power” is a concept widely discussed in the industry, to reduce delivering world class LIVE public lectures through our energy consumption. The technology could be adopted in most of the cases where a diaspora members and their colleagues using web based load is hoisted and lowered, or accelerated and decelerated using electrical motors. video conferencing technologies such as Skype. The very first one was done on the 9th of November, 2012 and was The theory behind the technology could be simply understood by analogy. Imagine delivered from Sydney, Australia. We record these digitally you pull a bucket of water from a well, using a rope driven over a pulley. You have to in the Multimedia portal for future viewing. put some effort to rotate the pulley and bring the bucket up. But once the bucket reaches the pulley and if the rope is released, the pulley rotates in the reverse direction (C) Live Web-streaming of public lectures: Very soon we and the bucket runs down without any effort, due to gravitational force. will begin live web streaming of all public lectures via web. If you have a broadband connection that gives a constant down Pulling the bucket up by putting an effort is similar to the motor action, where a load load speed of 5Mbps or more, you will be able to view these with a good user experience. We will advertise on the web is hoisted using a motor, consuming electrical energy. This increases the gravitational and email links to such live events via email, SMS etc. potential energy of the load. That energy is released when the load is lowered. This is similar to what happens when the bucket goes down. During the lowering action, (D) Twitter: IESL's breaking news is now transmitted through the motor is rotated by the effect of the gravitational force over the load. This makes the world famous macro blogging service that allows us to the same motor to act as a generator, delivering electrical energy. send a message of 140 characters to millions. Please go to www.twitter.com and create your twitter account. Then follow In the port industry, hoisting and lowering containers are the most important activities. IESL breaking news by becoming a follower of @iesllanka When the containers are moved down using cranes, motors generate electrical power. which is the official Twitter account of IESL. In some instances, this power is fed back to the electricity system. But there are cranes, which are not connected to the electricity supply, and use an on-board fuel (E) Online Services: The very first service that went live is oil generator to generate power by their own. The Rubber-Tyred Gantry (RTG) Cranes giving you the ability to pay membership fees using a credit used in many ports belong to this category. card. In order to do this, first one must register online and obtain a username and a password. Within two work days An analysis carried out using RTGs has shown that a significant portion of the hoisting you will receive them via email. After that, in few minutes you power is regenerated at the lowering of the container. If that power could be stored can pay membership fees securely from anywhere at your somewhere, such power could be used for the next hoist action. Storing of huge convenience. At the time of transaction, you will receive a amount of electrical energy is a challenge. But there are some new technologies that digital receipt for the payment. However, the head office will have been invented. check for payment details and inform you via email and in writing in two work weeks. If you are in a hurry, you can Super-capacitors are used to store energy. They are almost similar to ordinary email the Membership Department (see Contacts for capacitors, but have the capability of storing higher amounts of energy. Another information) by referring to your membership number and technology used is the flywheel. A flywheel is rotated at the lowering action, which payment reference. Unlike in the past, now everyone at the continues its rotation over some time. The subsequent rotation is used to generate secretariat use a set of digital reports to monitor the process. power for the hoisting action. Both the technologies are under experiment in many Thus the answer should be prompt. In the near future we ports in many countries across the globe. plan to provide Council meeting minutes, membership application service, etc, through the online service portal. Not only for cranes, these technologies are applicable to many industries, which use intermittent motor actions. Implementing these technologies inherit a cost, which YOUR RESPONSIBILITY: Register yourself to receive such reduce the profits of the entity. But, isn’t it more important to save every possible communications and more importantly to use online services. drop of fuel from burning? If you have not done that yet, please do so by using the link on Quick Links or on the right hand top corner of the home The hot red sun has sunk in the blue sea. Kids are still playing around, youth enjoying page. the evening with their companions and people walking along the beach with numerous gossips. I turn my head again and again, and enjoy the enthusiasm of smiling faces The journey has begun. We are all partners of this effort to everywhere. The nature is still kind on us and thus we are gifted with such fabulous create a transparent, service focused, efficient, modern IESL destinations to relax ourselves. Why don’t we put every possible effort to protect that will become the talk of the town before the end of this them for the owners of tomorrow? session. Its not the technology, it is the process and the desire to change that will make us better. Let's put up both The mesh of darkness growing around has remembered the birds of their sweet hands to constructively engage to build a digital IESL to serve homes. Time to go. its members, profession, and the society. Sri Lanka Engineering News - September / October 2012 IESL NEWS 15 Eng.Tilak De Silva, .... Contd. from page 1... Contd. from page 7... Telco's to be a SMART.. in framing an engineering and training policy in Sri Lanka that will make its engineers ready to become leaders in shaping a robust future for the country and enhance awareness of the The other option is for CSPs to fall back on another role of the institution both within Sri Lanka and overseas. The outcomes, he said, would be role of becoming LEAN ( Low-cost Enablers of Agnostic evaluated in terms of Membership Metrics, Participation Metrics, Policy Metrics, Metrics Networks) operators who provide underlying broadband related to Networking and interaction with other stake holders such as other professional connectivity that OTT players rely on and incorporate bodies, educators, Government and Visibility Metrics.Laying out a realistic roadmap to his into their offerings. In that respect CSPs will largely vision he listed out the challenges based on hitches and glitches he had observed in the operate as broadband capacity wholesalers rather than functions and services of the institution. As strategies he said that he will focus on retail providers. As such CSP’s position in the market improvements to processes, methodologies and policies to achieve objectives and hence will depend on their ability to provide faster broadband desired outcomes steering the institution to his vision of doing much more for the country connections in the most efficient way possible, while through its services to the members of the institution. Visit IESL web site www.iesl.lk for the enabling quality of service, prioritization and other video recording of the President's inaugural speech at the Annual Sessions. capabilities to OTT and OTT’s customers. In this Contd. from page 10... M1—The Pioneering Brush.... scenario CSP will gradually lose direct relation with its very old customers. Therefore understanding the elsewhere, but amongst the major defects were high inlet air temperatures and piston seizures due to badly positioned air intakes, main and big end bearing failures from incorrect choice market environment and capabilities, CSPs need to of bearing material, cracking of the fabricated crank cases, and bogie frames. select the best path they want to pursue and therefore which strategies, skills to be established also Now no mention of the M1s can ever be made, nor indeed of the Ceylon or Sri Lankan visualizing and managing larger workforce issues. Railways, without mentioning the name of B D Rampala; undoubtedly the greatest engineer ever produced by Sri Lanka. It was through his initiatives when he was the Chief Mechanical Engineer, that the main line dieselisation program was implemented. During the design and In summary even with the current global economic development of the M1s, Rampala had much discussion and input with Brush-Bagnall. uncertainty telecommunications sector is performing Thanks to the ingenuity of Mr Rampala and the skills of the Ceylon railway workshops allied relatively well due to well-developed CAPEX with Brush’s unstinted cooperation, many of the M1s initial problems were all overcome and management and strong defensive strategies on the locomotives settled down to give yeoman service on ’s rail tracks. The efforts of transforming its network resources to Next Generation the local workshops were stupendous; complete engine overhauls were carried out including Networks and to new business models. Also it is a fact casting of the entire casings for the Brown-Boveri turbochargers and rewinding of traction that new entrants in the sector are eagerly competing motors and generators. Rampala continued to maintain a close liaison with Brush. Rampala’s for the market share of emerging services based on subsequent paper to the Institution of Locomotive Engineers delivered in 1956 on Diesel broadband technology, customer behavior and Electric Traction in Ceylon was hailed as a masterpiece by international audiences in the railway industry. expectation. Therefore the traditional major players have to wake-up and put forward proactive strategies The haulage feats of the M1s with their 34,000 lbs starting and 25,000 lbs continuous tractive to grow in the future. efforts were legendary. The Kandy express, leaving Colombo Fort at 4.00pm, day in day out throughout the 1950s and early 60s, arrived in Kandy sharp on time at 7.50pm with an M1 at Reference: its head. The 1 in 44 Kadugannawa incline was tackled unassisted, with the JVS12T engine 1.http://ovum.com/straighttalk/ “Telecoms 2020 OVUM emitting a deep purr under notch 8 on the regulator with a thin emission from the exhaust perspectives” stack, and an occasional flicker of flame, possibly from unburnt fuel from a dripping injector. 2.http://www.ey.com/Publication/vwLUAssets The down Trincomalee night mail, usually M1 hauled and with 14 carriages grossing around Top_10_risks_in_telecommunications_2012/$FILE/ 450 tons, used to surmount the considerable incline leading up to Maho station, with no 2012_TelecomsBusinessReport_13Feb2012_low%20res.pdf perceptible loss of speed and where many a lesser locomotive would have been brought 3. http://www.ieee-iscc.org/2010/keynoteSlides/ down to a crawl, if not a complete standstill. Franco%20Prampolini.pdf The class accumulated some 30 million miles before being withdrawn from service in the 4.http://www.rolandberger.com/media/publications/2012-03- early 1980s, around 30 years after introduction. Regrettably, age, obsolescence, and lack of 06-rbsc-pub- spares had contributed to their demise. Brush did supply locomotives to Sri Lanka again; the How_telcos_transform_for_smartphone_society.html 800 hp M7s in the mid-1980s, with their EMD engines. Unfortunately though, Sri Lanka has been at the vagaries of international donors and creditors and has not had much of a free choice in its search for suitable locomotives latterly. Contd. from page 4... Installation cercerceremonemonemonyyy...... On the strength of the Ceylon order for the M1s, Brush won the supply of 20 Type 2 diesel locomotives for British Rail, when Britain herself set in place its own dieselisation plan in the Guest of Honour, Mr. Wegapitiya shared the experience early to mid-1950s.The Brush Type 2, although externally looking nothing like the M1, was he faced as he grows as a leading entrepreneur in Sri basically the M1 inside, albeit, with the Mirrlees JVS12T engine, in its normal rating of 1,250 Lanka. During his motivational speech, he highlighted bhp and of course, on standard gauge of 4ft 8.5ins. Due to the relative success of this Brush how one has to bear the hardships that may hinder the locomotive, British Rail chose it as the standard Type 2 diesel. Ultimately,263 locomotives progress to sucsess. were built, although with a number of subsequent modifications and improvements. Brush went on from strength to strength and by the early 1990s was unquestionably Britain’s Number 1 locomotive builder. During this period they had constructed some of Britain’s most For the year 2012/2013, following officers were successful diesels such as the Classes 47, 56 and 60; and straight electrics such as the installed by Distinguished Toastmaster M. Z. Saleem, Class 92 and the Channel Tunnel Shuttle locomotives, most of which are operational to date. the Immediate Past District Governor of District 82 of It would be no exaggeration to state that Brush should be indebted for much of this success Toastmaster International. President- Mahesh to the pioneering M1 and to the visionary thinking and counsel of B D Rampala. Furthermore, Amarasiri ACB, Vice President Education- Ranishka it also cannot be overlooked that the M1 has in no small measure contributed towards Wimalasena, Vice President Membership- Manjula furthering Brush’s fortunes in the locomotive industry and to the British rail diesel scene in Samarasinghe CC, Vice President Public Relations- general. Susil Hewawasam CC, Treasurer- Rasika Gunathilake Sadly, after withdrawal, as far as this writer is aware, most of the M1s were abandoned in CC, Secretary- Seeli Gunasekara CC, Sergeant at derelict condition at the Ratmalana yards. Although attempts had been made to restore one Arms- Lalith Pallegama, Immediate Past President- A. of the M1s, Number 560, it is understood that this project is floundering for want of funding. U. N. Niyaz CC, CL. Locomotive restoration is expensive business requiring much financial resourcing and hundreds of hours of dedication and labour, mostly on a voluntary basis such as the case in Western Following members, Thushara de Silva, Kelum countries; a luxury which Sri Lanka can ill afford amidst its other more pressing priorities. Weerawardane, Thushara Gunasekara, Nishantha But the M1 is a national engineering treasure, an item of immense international heritage Jayasooriya, Premalal Liyanage, Lolitha significance. No attempts should be spared in the efforts for getting 560 restored. Perhaps Brush could be contacted for assistance. They are still in existence, although on a much Wickramaarachchi, Mohomad Raeez, and Sahan reduced scale (currently, the British locomotive industry, as with other industries has depleted Piyasiri, were inducted by Division J Governor K. over time) and would no doubt have interest in restoring this pioneering locomotive. Vasanthan. What better tribute there would be, to both the M1 and Mr Rampala, than to restore 560 to full working order and to name it after the great man himself, “Bamunuarachchige Don Rampala”! The club holds its educational meetings on the 2nd The writer wishes to acknowledge the following works, for some of the information and 4th Thursdays at the Members Lounge of IESL, contained in this article: 120/15, Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 7 at 5.30 pm. Rampala, B D 1956, ‘Diesel Electric Traction in Ceylon’, in De Silva, L S &Mendis, D L O Mahesh +94 72 2480996, Ranishka +94 77 7699096, 1991, A History of the Sri Lanka Government Railway, The Institution of Engineers, Sri or Manjula +94 71 4135894 can be contacted for further Lanka, Colombo. Toms, G 2008,Brush, Diesel & Electric Locomotives 1940-2008, Venture Publications Ltd, information on the club activities and membership. Glossop, Derbyshire. Susil Hewawasam, VP Public Relations, IESL TM Club, Tufnell, R M 1979, The Diesel Impact on British Rail,Mechanical Engineering Publications +94 77 3868134 Ltd, London. Sri Lanka Engineering News - September / October 2012 16 IESL NEWS ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION SCADA SYSTEM KANDY EXPERIENCE by S.Alagoda – (CE-Kandy City) and Hashini Abeyratna (EE-Maintenance) hough Sri Lankan Electricity Distribution sector is spread all over the country to serve nearly 90% of consumer requirements, it has not been modernized enough to compare or challenge the worlds distribution technologies. It can be said that over the Tlast few decades nothing was introduced as a new technological approach to improve the existing distribution system performance other than some capacity developments and few other equipment developments. Meanwhile, world’s power distribution industry has Construction arrangement Central Server Major Applications of performance monitoring gone miles ahead and now arrangements of Kandy connects with each and every Kandy City SCADA System facilities of each and every network component, device 1)Centrally monitoring they are in smart positions City SCADA System network component such as or switch and gets the facility with many modern This SCADA system substation, gantry, line system parameter as inputs. applications including smart comprising of few remote The existing power sections etc. Output signals are delivered metering and smart grid. SCADA servers connected to distribution network (both when a remote operation is One can raise a question a main SCADA server at underground & overhead) can Creativeness of SCADA required. The SCADA “Could Sri Lankan Control Centre, Sub Stations be monitored in real time System implementation system currently deals with Distribution sector be PLCs, substation RTUs and centrally through this more than 500 inputs and developed to that level and communication facilities in SCADA system. It consists The most interesting part more than 50 output at what cost it could be?”. A between each RTU with of both status and commands. of the SCADA system fairly good answer was given control centre. Through this installation is the creativity by CEB Kandy Branch shown throughout the recently, by commissioning process by the Engineers. its SCADA System and Without any past using it for distribution experience, the local system operation activities. Engineers have Need of SCADA successfully completed application for the whole exercise with distribution systems minimum facilities and Supervisory Control and limited time availability. Data Acquisition (SCADA) This kind of power network System is used mainly to modernization activities in get the visibility of the power developing countries are network. In addition to that mostly carried out by following applications can be multinational companies on easily handled via a SCADA project basis by investing system. a large capital. Therefore, 01. Distribution System for a developing country real time monitoring (Status like Sri Lanka, this kind of and Performance) economical processes 02. Distribution System gives more benefits like: real time operations (Centralized and automated) 03. Distribution System historical analysis and future a) Professional predictions development of local 04. Fully automated Engineers algorithm developments 2) Centrally Operating Facility 05. SMART grid b) Local technical workmanship development developments and smart Remote distribution network switches can be operated centrally through this SCADA system. meter applications These real time operations take only few seconds (communication time) and safety operations c) Foreign currency Importance of Kandy City are guaranteed through password protection and other safety precautions. exchange saving SCADA System Implementation d) Cost effective maintainability of the SCADA SCADA System and its system applications can be developed by deploying e) Cost effective SCADA servers, RTUs communication facilities (Remote Terminal Units) and development other associated equipment with a suitable communication network Besides, the entire which will definitely require process gives a great a higher investment. Further confidence to local consultancy charges or Every Grid Substation and Primary Substation is monitored through out the day while keeping engineers about their expertise knowledge will be historical data backups available through an adequate duration.(one month) This historical capability of developing much expensive. performance analysis is helpful for deciding suitable network operations, network component such a product to an Thus the experience of upgrades and maintenance scheduling requirements. international standard and Kandy SCADA system In addition, all these performance indicators can be used to power system analysis and also it leads all other CEB implementation is very other enterprise requirements such as losses minimization, voltage profile maintainability branches to apply same important due to following and DG connections suitability etc. principles in future. reasons. (If you are interested about (a) Cost effective Kandy SCADA System, write methods of hardware to email – kandyscada developments @yahoo.com) (b) Local engineering participation for software developments (c) Communication infrastructure developments