SRI LANKA ENGINEERING NEWS Established 1906 The Newspaper of The Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka Vol. 47, No 12, November/December 2012 Registered at the GPO as a Newspaper No. QD/86 /NEWS/2011 IESL Newsletter — 30 Years of Engineering the Evolution. Transformation Where are we? What’s next? ROLE OF ENGINEERS IN TRANSFORMATION n this issue of the SLEN the IESL marks 30 years of publication of its monthly newsletter with a special supplement (See pages 6 and 7) to which several former editors have By Eng. Mangala P.B. Yapa Icontributed felicitations. Their messages reminisce the roles played by them in the evolution of the newsletter.. Originally called the’ IESL News’ which was printed in double A4 size he IESL commemorated the 102nd birth paper the newsletter has undergone many changes on its way to becoming what it’s now , a anniversary of the Late Eng. B.D. Rampala with tabloid, under the name and style of ‘Sri Lanka Engineering News’ usually in four-color cover a memorial lecture at the IESL Headquarters at and back pages, that covers engineering news in general, while also serving the specific T 120/15, Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 07 on communication needs of the institution with its members, in newsprint quality paper. The th age old problem of getting it to the members in time however persists with paper copies Wednesday, 14 November, 2012.The above theme of having to depend on the snail mail, not to mention the cost incurred in printing and postage this year's Eng. B D Rampala Memorial Lecture and the questionability of its contribution to environmental sustainability. delivered by Eng. Mangala P B Yapa, Managing The digital version of the Director, CEO-Colombo Dockyard PLC was a fitting SLEN was first published tribute to the late Engineer who transformed the then in December 2011 in the Ceylon Government Railways. The full text of the institution’s website lecture follows: This being an annual www.iels.lk parallel to the I am doubly honoured to occurrence conducted by paper copies being sent by deliver the memorial lecture the IESL and the 10th mail. Since then the of a great personality, one of Memorial Lecture in the evolution, especially of the the most renowned series, much would have digital version, of the SLEN Engineers of Sri Lanka, an been spoken about this illustrious General Manager has gone hand in hand with great personality, and yet, of the then Ceylon the revamping of the still much to learn from his institution’s website that January 1982 issue January 1990 issue Government Railway, a past character, some distinctive president of the IESL, late took place thereafter. qualities, which I would like Eng. B. D. Rampala, truly a to delve on, and bring about Developments to the role model for any engineer website and posting of the its relevance in the current who was an old boy of socio-political and SLEN in the website even Nalanda Vidyalaya, my own before it gets to the printer, economic backdrop of Sri alma-mater. Lanka. meant that deadlines of Contd. on page 3... notices to members could be comfortably met with applications, registrations Find information, Forms, Pay and other feed back membership fees, etc. mechanisms that became http://www.iesl.lk available on-line. Older issues of the SLEN, back up Provide direct feedback to the President to the December 2011 http://ieslpresident.blogspot.com/ issue, also have been December 2001 issue August 2002 issue with already archived and new Logo regularly being added to, Learn from public lectures and other making it possible to browse Note - The name 'Sri Lanka Engineering News' was media at leisure together with a lot adopted with the May 1994 issue of the newsletter. http://www.iesl.lk/ iesl_Multimedia_Portal.html of other reference materials scheduled dates and times no more be an exercise in that are posted in the through Bulk SMS / E-mails. isolation but an experience website — Journal For fast breaking news, follow IESL in The President’s Blog with possibilities of reaching ‘ENGINEER’ gets posted in Twitter facilitates direct out to multimedia enabled @iesllanka the website even before communication with the features, if desired, for a going to the printers, older president. more wholesome viewer IESL is now on Face Book, become a fan issues of Journal Thus viewing the newsletter in experience. of IESL ‘ENGINEER’, back up to the institution’s website need the October 2010 issue, are archived and Technical The Institution of Engineers Papers of the Annual Digital Survey Coming to Your Email Soon Transactions from the year Sri Lanka of establishment of the IESL will send a survey to find out member perceptions about services provided through the 120/15, Wijerama Mawatha, institution in 1906 up to secretariat and member opinions about variety of initiatives (professional, social, technical, Colombo 7, Sri Lanka. 2011 have been achieved, In personal, general) that IESL can/should take up.The purpose of this digitally enabled survey Tel: 2685490, 2698426,2699210 addition video recordings of is to arrive at a set of specific, statically relevant, actionable information without any Fax: 2699202 presentations, memorial administrative cost or effort. This information will be used for immediate initiatives as lectures, professional review E.mail: [email protected] / [email protected] well as input to the ongoing IESL Corporate Planning exercise to create a three year courses get posted within a Website: http://www.iesl.lk short time after those events plan. The survey will come to you as a link in an email that will take you to a web form. We will are held at its Colombo Head ensure that it takes no more than 10-15 min of your time. Throughout the survey period, you will In this Issue Office. So are overseas be able to see up to date results and will be visible on our websitewww.iesl.lk. IESL Toastmastes lectures beginning to be live Club...... 4 If you have not given your current email address to IESL, please do so by registering online streamed with advance Editorial...... 4 at www.iesl.lk (go to Quick Links or to the top of the Home Page) to receive digitally enabled notifications to members of IESL Newsletter - 30 yrs of services such as Online Payment of Membership Fees and other planned services publication...... 6 Sri Lanka Engineering News - November/December 2012 2 IESL NEWS
THE INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS, SRI LANKA THE INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS, SRI LANKA Directory of Structural Engineers
As per the UDA requirements it is necessary for corporate members of the Institution of Applying for the Seal Engineers, Sri Lanka in the field of Civil Engineering to become eligible and register with for 2013 the Institution to carry out structural designs of buildings with more than 4 floors. Above directory for 2013 will be prepared by 31st March 2013 to include names of members Corporate members of the Institution of Engineers, Sri registered with the Institution. This Directory will have in addition, a separate section for Lanka are eligible to apply for a seal from the Institution. listing names of members who want to practice structural design of buildings with less They are encouraged to affix this seal in their designs, than 4 floors. Interested corporate members can now send their applications. drawings and important documents. 1. The seal will carry the name and the logo of the 1. Application Form No: DES-SE/FO/11 is available at the IESL and also can be Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka along with the surname downloaded from the IESL website. and initials of the applicant as per records maintained by 2. Duly furnished application form should be given to the IESL Secretariat along with an the Institution. However an applicant may request to have application processing fee of Rs. 1,000.00. his/her name written with the first name. 3. Application form will be processed only if all subscription fees due are paid fully. 2. A validity period or an expiry date will not be indicated 4. Only corporate members of IESL can apply. in the seal from 2013. However, members are requested 5. Successful applicants will be requested to pay Rs. 1,500.00 as the registration fee for not to use the seal if they have failed to pay the current the current year and then their names will be published in the appropriate categories in membership fees. the Directory of Structural Engineers. 3. Application Form No: DES-SE/FO/10 is available at 6. To continue the registration and name appearing in the Directory, the Registration Fee the IESL and also can be downloaded from the IESL of Rs. 1,500.00 should be paid each year. website.
7. Members who wish to enlist their names in the Low-Rise Category of the Directory 4. Duly furnished application form should be given to the should also apply using the same form and pay stipulated fees. IESL Secretariat along with the fee of Rs. 2,000.00. Please note that applications will be processed only if all 8. Please refer to NOTES TO APPLICANTS in the Application Form for further subscription fees due are paid fully. directions. 5. Please refer to NOTES TO APPLICANTS in the 9. Applications should reach the Institution on or before 31st January 2013. Application Form for further directions. IESL DIRECTORY THE INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS, SRI LANKA OF ADJUDICATORS Directory of Building Services / ARBITRATORS Engineers
Corporate Members of the Institution (chartered As per the Urban Development Authority Law No. 41 of 1978, when Building Plans are engineers), having more than 10 years of experience submitted for approval the UDA may request that such drawings are prepared by a after obtaining Corporate Membership, who are Qualified Person in the field of Building Services Engineering. In order to fulfill interested in having their names included in the next this requirement, IESL has prepared the Directory of Building Services Engineers to IESL Directory of Adjudicators and Arbitrators are invited list names of Qualified Persons in the field of Building Services Engineering. Next st to apply now. Next directory will be published in March issue of the Directory for 2013 will be published by 31 March 2013. 2013. Those members whose names have already Applications are invited from Corporate Members of IESL qualified in the field of Building been registered in the current directory can continue to Services who wish to be included as Qualified Persons in the said field in the Directory. have their names included in the respective category/ Applications Forms: DES-BS/FO/5 can be downloaded from the IESL Website or both categories in the directory by paying a registration collected from the IESL Secretariat. Duly completed forms should be given to IESL fee of Rs. 1,500/- annually. Secretariat and payment of stipulated fees of Rs. 1500.00 should be made to IESL on or before 31st January 2013. New applicants should possess exposure to the subject. Applicants with inadequate exposure will be requested The Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka to follow a training course on this subject either organized by the IESL or by other reputed institution. Agricultural and Plantation
Those members who are presently engaged in Engineering Section adjudication and arbitration work are encouraged to apply and have their names listed in the directory. Presently the IESL is having limited information on members specialized in Agricultural and Plantation Engineering. The IESL intends creating a database of members specialized in this field under the guidance of Eng. T. K. G. Ranasinghe, Chairman of A fee of Rs. 3500/- will be charged from a new applicant the Agricultural and Plantation Engineering Sectional Committee. Those members for listing in one category or in both the categories of who are interested in joining the Agricultural and Plantation Engineering Section of Adjudicator and Arbitrator. Application Forms DES-AD/ IESL are invited to send their names along with the following details to IESL secretariat FO/1 for Adjudicators and DES-AB/FO/2 for Arbitrators or email to [email protected]. can be downloaded from the IESL Website or collected Name of the member: ………………………………………………………...... …… from the IESL Secretariat. Duly completed forms should Address: …………………………………………………………………………...... ….…. be given to IESL Finance Division with the payment of Telephone number: ……………………… Email: …………………………...... …. stipulated fees of Rs. 1000.00 as application processing fee on or before 31st January 2013. Successful Name of the employer: ……………………………………………………...... …..….. applicants will be requested to pay the balance of Rs. Designation: …………………………………………………………………...... ………… 2,500.00 as the initial registration fee to include their Office address: ……………………………………………………………………...... … name in the Directory. Office telephone: …………………………………Fax: ……………………...... …. Sri Lanka Engineering News - November/December 2012 IESL NEWS 3
Contd. from page 1... Engineering the Transformation
consuming. The planters bringing in new technologies skillfully arrange for now began to agitate for a to meet the emerging (something) to occur. railway to haul their produce challenges: from coal to Transformation refers to “A to Colombo, as it was likely diesel, for speed and energy marked change, as in to be an important asset in efficiency, track appearance or character, the development of the improvements to cope with usually for the better” plantation industry, and in greater speeds, colour light (Free Media Dictionary). the unification of the Kandy signal system for safety and Thus, transformation, i.e. the provinces with the maritime risk prevention, express process or the act of settlements. trains, observation coaches transforming becomes an and better railway stations for essential ingredient of socio- Eng. Mangala P B Yapa, The Colonial Governor, Sir passenger comfort and economic development of a Managing Director, CEO-Colombo Dockyard PLC Henry Ward (1855-1860), efficacy, all in all, a fast, easy society. reacted to the idea affordable transport system favourably, and the Secretary Personal Details of B. D. continued his role for fifteen to the people. Further he even Globally development to the State for the Colonies Rampala long-years, withstanding took part in establishment of process is leap frogging: Eng. Rampala was born in a was informed about it. In successive changing the CTB, and Hardware extremely high in small village, Rukmale, in the 1845, the Ceylon Railway governments, policies and Corporation and major technology, skills, and Western Province of Sri Company (CRC) was politics. workshop facilities to boost expertise, transport systems Lanka and had his early established in England, local manufactory. Even where accessibility to any education in Kottawa and under the Chairmanship of I personally believe, the today, if one talks about the part of the world with ease, later at Nalanda Vidyalaya Philip Anstruther, for the and at Ananda College, TRANSFORMATION of the Railway in Sri Lanka, the so much so that the world is building of a railway in Sri Colombo. He entered the young Eng. B. D. Rampala, Rampala era invariably considered ‘flat’ and not Lanka, first up to Kandy, in then Ceylon University to become a versatile comes to the mind and is round any longer. Thus, the fulfillment of the wishes of College for his tertiary Engineer was partly due to called the ‘Golden Era’ of the change in our environment to the planters”. education, in Engineering. the lifestyle of his early Sri Lanka Railways. meet new challenges must Unlike today, at that time childhood to youth, from Taken such challenges in its be done in tandem. This there were no universities in Unquote: rural surroundings to urban full context, one has to needs to be done Ceylon, and anyone who Young Eng.B. D. Rampala, background, skillfulness in appreciate that it indeed is consistently and aspired to pursue having assumed the post of both languages, local more than a handful for any systematically. engineering or medicine, had GMR in 1955, just 7 years vernacular and the English single person, but as history to join the Ceylon University after we received language, systematic has proven it was not so for Looking back we see, College or the Ceylon independence, and a century Medical College, which acquiring of knowledge and Eng. Rampala. revolutionary changes that after the establishment of the perhaps were affiliated to the skills at the then Ceylon had taken place in tandem rail system in Ceylon, had University of London. University College and the Eng. Rampala faced all such with the evolution of the the challenge of transforming Incidentally, it is the Mechanical Workshop of the challenges with his traditional mankind. Movement was by the CGR, so created to meet amalgamation of the Ceylon CGR. Not only he wisdom and vigor, never foot from place to place, on the aspirations of a few, to a University College and the transformed to a versatile considering that nothing is elephants back, on Ceylon Medical College that unique National Transport engineer, during his career at impossible, engineering his horseback, then by bullock gave birth to the first System that would benefit the CGR, he was also able way, emerging through cart, horse carriage etc. It is university in Sri Lanka, the the society at large. The to amass a wealth of bureaucracies of colonial quite clear therefore that University of Ceylon in 1942. opportunities that were managerial and leadership masters and local politics, transformation is a bare available to a few affluent Subsequently, Mr. Rampala competencies, and thereby demonstrating his wisdom necessity in the development was awarded with a Bachelor TRANSFORMED himself to class people in big cities, and acumen in leadership & of a society, and it is my of Science Degree by the be a great leader and a had to be expanded enabling management. fervent argument that University of London, and versatile manager, who could the locals, especially the became an Associate I am sure that there are ENGINEERS HAVE AN initiate and lead the poor people that lived in Member of the Institution of thousands and hundreds of INSEPARABLE AND TRANSFORMATION of the peripheries, to reap benefits Mechanical Engineers, UK thousands of Sri Lankans IMPORTANT ROLE TO entire railway system of Sri from the socio economic by 1935. He was a Chartered from all corners of the country, PLAY IN SUCH Lanka. developments that were Engineer and a Fellow, a who found a new way of life, TRANSFORMATION. Honorary Life Fellow of the taking place in the country. better opportunities, better Institution of Engineers, Sri The railway system in Ceylon In a similar context, today education, and better As we all know Sri Lanka Lanka and one of its was constructed by the we are again talking about employment thanks to the gained independence after illustrious Past Presidents, colonial rulers for the purpose creating better and fast transformation that took place over three centuries of from 1958 to 1959. of transportation of goods, connectivity, with a network in the national railway, colonial rule, just at the especially the export cargo of highways, internal airports initiated and led by late Eng. conclusion of World War II. Though he started his career from the peripheries to the combined with the Rampala. Since then, much time was at the Police Department, Ports of Galle and Colombo. development of peripheral wasted on internal feuds, perhaps to the greater good road network. I am of the Beginning of Railway in In other words, indeed, he insurrections and civil wars. of the nation, after a short view, that transportation and Ceylon TRANSFORMED the way The country that emerged out stint, he joined the connectivity, plays a vital role So, the rail transport in the people lived, creating of the separatist war of thirty Mechanical Engineering in integrating the people from Ceylon came into being greater good to the society, years, is now slowly but Department of the CGR, all walks into the since 1858. through his wisdom. Simply, surely endeavouring to where he pursued his development process of a he ENGINEERED THE restore its stability politically, apprenticeship. No doubt, This is what Arydasa society and provides greater TRANSFORMATION socially and economically, that during his tenure at the Ratnasinghe had to say, in opportunities to the masses PROCESS AND LED IT nonetheless, amidst many Mechanical Engineering an article titled “Cutting the to reap benefits. TOWARDS THE RIGHT challenges. In an era of Asian Department of the CGR, he first sod of Earth for the dominance it would certainly Railway in 1858”, that I Transformation of CGR DIRECTION. meticulously mastered and Thus, the challenges before be foolhardy not to take the acquired every skill that he managed to extract in the the new GMR were So, what is the role of an opportunity to move forward. needed to become the internet. enormous and engineer in the transformation We are at the threshold of yet legendary personality that he I quote: unprecedented. process that is taking place another opportunity, as it did is renowned to be. “Since the planters were More than his engineering in Sri Lanka, in the immediately after the making rapid progress by ingenuity and far thinking, it contemporary context? Is it independence, to take the He was the first Ceylonese clearing more and more was his vision and different from then to now? country to its rightful destiny. to hold the position of the waste lands, to produce the commitment to give the So, as engineers, it is timely Chief Mechanical Engineer, commercially viable crop society a better deal that Literally, engineering refers to take up the challenges, to a prestigious position in the tea, they soon felt the need made him revolutionize the to a profession of acquiring ENGINEER THE administrative hierarchy of for better transport to haul the cargo carrying railway and applying scientific, TRANSFORMATION FOR the country (1949 to 1955) bulk produce to Colombo for system to a fully-fledged economic, social and THE BETTERMENT OF and finally rose to the position shipment, a distance of 115 transport system, beneficial practical knowledge. An THE SOCIETY. All we need, of GMR by 1955, becoming km. from Kandy. The road to the entire country. The engineer is defined as a simply, is the vision, the the second Ceylonese to hold transport facilities were not infrastructure was professional involving this prestigious position and only costly but also time completely transformed by designing and building or Contd. on page 12.... Sri Lanka Engineering News - November/December 2012 4 IESL NEWS IESL TOASTMASTERS CLUB Sri Lanka Engineering News What is your New Year 30 Years of SLEN Resolution? LEN celebrated its 30th year in by T M Mahesh Amarasiri, ACB 2012. Initially as 'IESL News' Sand later as 'Sri Lanka he dawn of the New Year is few days away. This is the Engineering News' it has been a long period of the year we look back and see what we have journey in the past and it has a very Tachieved. Also this is the period of time that we think long way to go in the future too. At about our plans for next year. this moment we all have to be thankful for the dedication of its past editors who sacrificed their valuable time in making SLEN what We as individuals have many dreams. Often we make New Year resolutions and work towards it's today and in tribute to which we decided to compile it in order to achieve them. Some wants to build a new house, getting married and some their experiences to share with others. In this volume you others wants to give up smoking and alcohol, reduce weight and this list goes on. may grasp very important and informative messages from What are your New Year resolutions? some past editors of SLEN. We consider their efforts as What about improving your communication skills and leadership skills. really invaluable and would like to acknowledge contributions to the SLEN from others also. Membership We as Engineers need to lead teams. Need to communicate with different stakeholders. too can raise their voices and you are always welcome to It is part and parcel of our career.Isn’t it important to improve these skills? send your comments to me for any suggestions to improve the SLEN. When we were in the university, we were taught the technical and analytical skills, which enable us to perform our technical duties. During the first few years of our employment our technical skills matters a lot. However, when you reach the middle and senior managerial Digital Copies of SLEN levels your technical skills becomes less relevant; and your communication and leadership The world is showing much concern of preserving its valu- skills become increasingly relevant. When you reach the top most positions what matters is able resources for the future. Don’t we, as engineers, have the communication and leadership skills the most. our fair share of concern? In the last few years the matter Think about the CEO of your organization. What he does is nothing but leading and driving a of posting hardcopies to members has been the subject of diverse workforce to reach organizational goals. serious discussion at IESL and it was revealed that a con- siderable number of hardcopies don’t reach them due to If you have not thought of these important skills, this is the time to think about it. various reasons. It’s not only a waste of money but also a Can you remember how you learned to drive a vehicle? On the first day you did not have a serious waste of resources including human resources at clue about the functions of the vehicle. But you sat behind the wheel and tried to move the the IESL. The time has come for us to go digital, at least to vehicle. After so much of struggle, with experience and practice you became a good driver. those who are keen on it. The move we hope will be a Learning to swim is another example. One needs to get into the pool first and learn it. significant step towards green environment and right con- There are no shortcuts for skills development. We need to do it and learn. cerns of the membership requirements and the environ- Similarly, there is no way out to develop communication and leadership skills, but learning ment as a whole. However the required number of by doing it. However, there are many one day workshops on the same subject and I have hardcopies will still be printed for those who need them. attended too. I have gained nothing but a good meal from a five start hotel from those seminars. Other Issues What is Toast mastering? And How would toastmaster program be different from seminars? Toastmasters program is an education process dedicated to improve the communication Two new topics, I believe, should be discussed in detail and leadership skills of its members. It is an international organization based in United with the membership. One is the Corporate Plan of the States and has over 280,000 members in 13,500 clubs in 116 countries. IESL and the other is the Engineering Council Act. Members can raise their voices on these topics and if you Toastmaster’s education programs are conducted in toastmaster's clubs at the club meetings. want to share your experience and comments, please write A Toastmasters meeting is a learn-by-doing workshop in which participants improve their to us. speaking and leadership skills in a no-pressure atmosphere. Eng (Dr). Udeni P. Nawagamuwa There is no instructor in a Toastmasters meeting. Instead, members evaluate one another’s [email protected] presentations. This feedback process is a key part of the program’s success. Meeting participants also give impromptu talks on assigned topics, conduct meetings and develop skills related to timekeeping, grammar and giving feedback. What the IESL Logo means Members learn communication skills by working in theCompetent Communication manual, a series of 10 self-paced speaking assignments designed to instill a basic foundation in public speaking. This will then move to series of advance speeches.
Members also learn leadership skills by taking on various meeting roles and working in the Competent Leadership manual. In the learn-by-doing approach, there are no lectures for members about leadership skills; responsibilities are given and the mentoring is available.
The individual has to lead. Just like learning to drive a vehicle. How would the engineers benefit from the toastmasters program? The IESL Logo which was adopted in August 2002 There is a dedicated club for the Engineering professionals in Sri Lanka; IESL Toastmasters while highlighting the engineering heritage of Sri Club. Lanka, also displays its ability to meet the challenges of the future. IESL Toastmasters Club was established in 2004 to improve the communication and leadership skills among the engineering professionals in Sri Lanka. During last nine years IESL Toastmasters Club has produced many leaders including the first Distinguished Toastmaster The basic elements of the Logo are: (DTM) in Sri Lanka. Distinguished Toastmaster is the pinnacle of toast mastering and a dream of many practicing toastmasters and IESL Toastmasters Club has produced four (i) The Grid and Pencil – which is the DTMs so far. backbone of engineering drawings IESL Toastmaster is open for all the practicing engineers in Sri Lanka and for their family graphs and the representation of members. The education meetings are conducted in every 2nd and 4th Thursday at the Members engineering data. Lounge of IESL.
(ii) The Ancient Civil Structure – representing If you have a New Year resolution to improve your communication and leadership skills, IESL Toastmasters Club is the best place. We are eagerly waiting to support you. Sri Lanka’s cultural and structural engineering heritage (The writer is the president of IESL Toastmasters Club. He is an engineer by profession and presently working for Etisalat Lanka (pvt) Ltd as Head of Strategic Planning. He has completed (iii) The Channel with Sluice Gate – his MBA and B.Sc. from University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. He is a Fellow Member of Chartered institute of Management Accountants, UK, and holds Associate Memberships at representing Sri Lanka’s continuing Chartered Institute of Marketing, UK and Institute of Engineers, Sri Lanka. He can be reached expertise in hydraulic engineering . on [email protected]) Sri Lanka Engineering News - November/December 2012 IESL NEWS 5 Deshamanya Vidya Jyothi Await The Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka Dr. Ray Wijeyewardene in the next Memorial Lecture Call for Papers he 88th birth anniversary of the Deshamanya Vidya issue of the Jyothi Dr. Ray Wijewardena was commemorated SLEN! for the Tat the IESL Headquarters at 120/15, Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 07 on Thursday, 15th November, 2012 at Annual Sessions 2013 5.15 pm. Organized jointly by the IESL and the Ray Details of the Call Wijewardene Charitable Trust, this year’s memorial lecture for Papers for the delivered by Prof. Gehan Amaratunga, Group Leader, two Water Re- Call for Papers Electronics, Power and Energy Conversion (EPEC) Research sources Develop- The Institution is pleased to call for technical papers to be Group, Electrical Engineering Division, Cambridge University ment Competitions presented at the Annual Sessions to be held in October 2013, Engineering Department, UK, was on “Being Ingenious at for year 2013 spon- which will provide a forum for engineers to share their the Nanoscale”. Pictures show President of IESL, Eng. Tilak sored by St. De Silva garlanding the portrait of Late Dr. Ray Wijewardene experiences and is aimed at general advancement of science Anthony’s Indus- and the memorial lecture being delivered by Prof.Gehan and practice of engineering in all disciplines. Amaratunghe. tries Group (Pri- vate) Ltd. and the The paper should generally be of value and interest to International Water Engineers and contribute in the advancement of the Management Insti- Profession of Engineering. It must be based on review of tute (IWMI) respec- past practice, information of current interest, or probing into tively would be an- new fields of engineering activity. It should be a presentation nounced soon and of thought provoking study contributing to planning, analysis, will be advertised in design, construction/ fabrication/production, management or the next issue of the maintenance of Engineering developments. In this context, SLEN. The competi- practical papers are strongly encouraged. Wherever possible, tions are conducted theoretical papers should include a section on practical in the two age cat- egories of over application or additional research areas to be pursued for 35Years and 35 effective technology transfer. Years and below Submission of Papers and selects the best technical papers Intention for submitting a paper should be conveyed th among all catego- to the IESL on or before 15 March 2013 in the ries of members of stipulated form (iesl/pub/form/01)* with a synopsis of the IESL for Awards the proposed paper (not exceeding 200 words). and Prizes at the This synopsis is used by the Editorial Board for preliminary Annual Sessions. screening. Subject to the proposed synopsis being accepted in-principle, which will be finalized by 31st March 2013, full technical paper in the stipulated format (iesl/pub/guide/01)* should be submitted on or before 30th April 2013, in the form of two hard copies and a word-processed soft copy, to be subjected to the refereeing process. All papers will be refereed by at least two subject specialists. The decision of the Editorial Board on the acceptance of the Paper for publication shall be final. It is mandatory for the authors of all accepted papers to present them at the Annual Sessions of the Institution, held in the month of October 2013. Schedule of Key Dates Last date for receipt of abstracts - 15th March 2013 Notification of acceptance - 31st March 2013 Last date of submission of full paper - 30th April 2013 Proposed dates for annual sessions - 22nd to 24th October 2013 Best Paper Award Best paper based on the marks given by referees and judges at the presentation, will be entitled to the prestigious Prof. E.O.E. Pereira Award. Mailing All abstracts, full papers and other correspondence should be addressed to: Eng. (Prof.) K.P.P. Pathirana Editor, Technical Papers for Annual Sessions, The Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka, 120/15, Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 7. Tel: 011-2698426 Ext. 232, 20 Fax: 011-2699202 Email: [email protected] , [email protected]. * Softcopies could be downloaded from website www.iesl.lk or obtained by a request to Miss. Gayathri, through email
Sri Lanka Engineering News - November/December 2012 8 IESL NEWS Maththala International Airport by Eng. G Vithanage BSc Eng., CEng., MIE(Sri Lanka), atunayake, Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) is the only main international gateway to the Island of Sri Lanka. Although there are several Seaports capable of handling International traffic, 98% of passengers use BIA as their departing and arriving terminal considering its level of safety and Kcomfort. This Airport was built on the base of the British Royal Air force and later converted to a civil military user airport. Prior to that Ratmalana Airport which was built on the land of late Sir John Kothalawala, handled limited air passenger movement, mainly to regional destinations. The Bandaranaike International Airport at Katunayake was initially developed to handle one million passengers per annum under the financial assistance of the Canadian Government in late sixties. In 1978 the Government of Sri Lanka decided to expand the Terminal building of BIA to facilitate 3 million passengers and to construct a new Runway and Taxiway system with a fully equipped Air traffic Control Tower. This project was named as BIADP Phase-I and completed in 1986. The Master plan was developed by “LEA ACRES NORR” in 1979 and drawn in a phased out development plan to BIA considering traffic and economic growth of the Island. However stage I was designed and completed in 1984 and stage II was delayed by six years as a result of low passenger turnover due to prevailing BIA Arrival in 1980 security situation in the country. BIA Porch in 1980
The Phase II of the said Mas- ter Plan was again divided in to stages as Stage I and Stage II of Phase II and Stage of Phase II and was com- pleted in 2006 with assistance from “OECF” Japan (Overseas Economic Cooperates Fund) with Stage II of Phase II. BIA was equipped with finger pier with 14 numbers of aero bridges, new apron and mod- ernization of Air traffic and navigational aid. Presently its capacity is to handle six mil- Public concourse built in 2006 Pier and aerobridges constructed in 2006 lion passengers per annum. independent approaches located in a rural area with very late to the region sea port aerodrome, runway design and departures with a multi scarcity of even basic facilities The idea of a Second International airport and to facilitate most modern model passenger terminal, and the only advantage was International Airport to Sri Express way, road and railway aircraft, that is A380. The cargo facility surrounded by the determination and Lanka has been dragging network was planned and took Length and width of the various types of aircrafts commitment of the since 1939 and several off as per the project schedule. runway are 3500m and 75m stands (parking apron). government to develop greater locations were proposed by respectively. successive Governments with Mattala was selected as a Hambantota area as a service Medium Term Development hub of southern Sri Lanka. the aim of having an alternate location for a second The pavement type was was drawn for passenger to the BIA. Economic International Airport to Sri configured as flexible capacity up to 12 to 15 The approach to forecasting of Feasibility of a second Lanka and its Environmental pavement with polymer millions with single runway Mattala Hambantota Airport International Air port was Impact Assessment was modified Asphaltic concrete and multi model was not a conventional limited to fuel saving for conducted. Environmental wearing course. international traffic and use of Impact Assessment was led transportation facilities at methodology. The Trend the terminal. The Short analysis and geometric Runway in emergencies. by the expert team from the Approximately five million Term Development plan analysis are the conventional University of Moratuwa cubic meters earth cutting which is active today is to tools for passenger and traffic Palavi, Trincomalee, consisted of veteran / experts and filling were carried out cater to one million forecast which could not be Minneriya, Jaffna, Kuda Oya from various disciplines of to get the correct profile of passenger volume per the correct instrument due to and Wirawila were the Environmental science. the runway and nearly Half annum together with nearly non availability of data. In this proponent sites suggested million cubic meters of rock 50,000 cargo tones per context migration statics on and none of them were worked The approval was granted to had been blasted. out for the construction. proceed with the project as annum. The Airport layout the foreign employment from per the Master Plan on 4th May of Stage I spreads over 800 the South, Central and Eastern region, tourism projections of Runway Ends, Thresholds, The Government of Sri Lanka 2009 and construction works hectares . and predicted availability of Edges and Centerlineare lit under the patronage of HE the commenced accordingly. with aeronautical ground Stage-I of Mattala hotel and recreational facilities President Mahinda light as per International Hambantota International of the region were used as a Rajapaksa decided to have an The Master plan of the Mattala, Civil Aviation Standards Airport development planning tool. International airport in the Hambantota International regulations. Four number project was commenced southern part of Sri Lanka to Airport project consists of of two set of precision path on 27th November 2009 by Forecasted data were very vital facilitate the promised three major development indicators installed at 300m His Excellency the for the designing of the facility integrated development work strategies, namely from the runway threshold President Mahinda requirements such as terminal together with sea port, road 1. Short Term Development to given pilot to descending Rajapakse and it is in size, road layout parking and railway network to trigger 2. Medium Term Development approach angle when they progress now, aiming to configuration and volume. economic activity of the 3. Ultimate Development are flying using visual aids, complete its construction Accordingly stage-I was South. and also. Instrument The Ultimate Development works by end of 2012. designed to cater one million passengers per year with 400 landing system and The Urban Development plan illustrates out look of category-I approach Passenger and traffic peak/hourly passenger Authority of Sri Lanka Airport to a horizon of lighting systems are being Forecast capacities at the terminal. prepared a Master Plan for the passenger movement over 12 installing at runway 23 ends entire region naming it million at 30 year to 50 years to facilitate Instrument flight Forecast of Passenger and Facilities at the Airport “Greater Hambantota time scale, which need to have rules. Development Plan” beside the at least 2000 Hectares of land Air traffic of a Greenfield Strategic Environment to lay the two runway airport was a difficult task. Runway and control tower are Assessment was conducted configured airport with Mattala, Hambantota the main element of Contd. on page 9... Sri Lanka Engineering News - November/December 2012 IESL NEWS 9
Contd. from page 8... Maththala International..... 2012, and hoping to complete by end 2012, three months ahead of contractual completion. Runway pavement works have been already completed and runway markings are progressing with the motorized paint marker. Runway grooving has to be carried out to achieve the required friction levels. Runway grooving machine is already purchased and brought to site and waiting for runway friction tester (Mumeter) to run over runway pavement to evaluate what ever grooving is essential, if not pavement will not be grooved. Runway lighting installation is near completion.
Pavement concrete Apron over modern equipment which Mattala International Airport Ten Hectare of land is being are procured from all over as regular operators and constructed to facilitate the world. The height of the more airlines are willing to parking of ten numbers of control tower is 45m and its operate from the new airport aircrafts. Total volume of 52m above in reference to in the form of charter flights concrete poured for the apron elevation of runway 05 end. or as technical stops. exceeds Ten thousand cubic The Cargo complex is meters. There will be ten capable of handing 50,000 Project Management All the communication and air navigational equipments were numbers of 18m high flood metric tones annually and brought to site and now progressing with the installation to mast to illuminate apron area equipped with X-rays cooler China Harbor Engineering perform scheduled flight calibrations. to complete. room, plant and quarantine Company Ltd is a design and facility within the complex. build contractor of the Passenger terminal building is Category 10 fire facility is project. designed as an energy efficient installed at the fire and AECOM (Hong Kong) is the building which includes high rescue building at Mattala lead design consultant and efficiency cooled air condition Hambantota International pavement design was done system and three layered Airport to achieve 3 minutes by AECOM Australia. The glass screens, thermal response time to each side design Architect for the insulated roof and external of run way end. building works is Mark walls. Orientation of the Mollen Associates. passenger terminal is such Water supply, waste water that thermal insulated blind disposal, and solid waste CPG airport Singapore is the walls would cut the sunlight disposal systems are also Lead consultant, and they whilst three layered glass being constructed at the assist AASL to maintain screens will provide natural premises of the Airport to required quality and safety lights to the terminal in day handle utility service levels for the constructions time reducing heat load of the requirement. and finally approvals from the inside. International Civil aviation 300m3 capacity water Organization. This approval is Intelligent lighting system and tower, 200m3 of ground essential to operate civil building management system sump, 1000m3 of fire water airport in the island. are also included in this for sump and primary, AASL Engineers, Architects better management of energy. secondary and tertiary and Technical officers are distribution network of doing one to one close Inline baggage handling potable and fire water will supervision with guidance This was a good opportunity to the Sri Lankan engineers to system at departure is also be available at the from CPG air ports to achieve enhance capacity of the know how and confidence in their introduced at the departure completion of Mattala quality cost and time target own discipline checking area to enhance Hambantota International set. comfort, safety and security of Airport Development Project Progress Central Engineering and Consultancy Beauru and Access the passengers. In arrival there project. 70% of total project works as Engineering Company Ltd work with China Harbor Engineering will be two baggage belts Company Ltd as the structural design and construction work per the contract is completed available to handle arriving Commercial activities as a sub contractor. baggage flow. Customs, at the end of September immigration and emigration, The North Eastern side and health quarantine, animal and the Southern part of Airport plant quarantine and other is planned to have free essential regulatory zones and a MRO facility. institutions, will be located AASL expects to get inside the terminal. investment proposal from Domestic passenger investors to carry out such movement will also be handled business at the airport within said terminal in addition premises using air port to the international infrastructure. Hotels and passengers. recreation areas will be located at South West part An Iconic Air traffic control of the Airport. tower is built at the center of the air port to manage air traffic Srilankan, Mihin lanka, Fly GP Antenna Installed in the aerodrome DVOR & DME Installing at 23 End of movement in and out of the air Dubai, Air Arabia and Qatar Runway port. Tower console cabin is Airways have already given Contribution of Sri Lanka engineers to the project is highly commendable in all disciplines; equipped with world class most from detailed design to construction and final testing and commissioning. their consent to fly from Passenger Terminal building Sri Lanka Engineering News - November/December 2012 10 IESL NEWS
Scenarios for Vehicular Traffic Monitoring Via the Mobile Telecommunications Network by Eng (Dr.) Asoka Korale, C.Eng. MIESL
Introduction
ecent advances in mobile phone handsets coupled with increasingly versatile network technologies have set the stage for innovative applications and solutions to problems encountered in everyday living. In particular the mobile communications network is increasingly being used for purposes not Roriginally envisaged. Estimating vehicular traffic flows is one such application. Given the high cost of camera and road sensor based traffic estimation and information systems, solutions based on the ubiquitous mobile network is an attractive alternative.
This article presents the Mobility Management potential avenues available for location monitoring and The movement of the mobile within the network is managed position estimation of mobile via a state machine. The mobility management state phones and through that the machines can be categorized as follows and determine the possibilities for vehicular type of signaling and location/position information available traffic estimation and about the mobile at the core network. monitoring in a Sri Lankan context. Given the general 1. Circuit switched mobility management (CS MM) readership, technical jargon 2. Packet switched mobility management (PS MM) is kept to a minimum and a 3. GPRS mobility management (GPRS MM) high level descriptive Techniques that correlate mobile base serving the user in the approach is used in this 1. The CS MM state machine can be in either detached network utilization levels with circuit switched domain article. (mobile switched off), idle or connected state. When in idle mobile phone densities and time while the SGSN plays a mode the mobile’s location is known to core network (CN) also have been trialed in some similar role to the MSC in The mobile network and with the accuracy of a LA and has to be paged in order to markets, but there don’t appear the packet switched handset allow for location connect with a call. When paged to receive a call the mobile to be commercial products that domain. The GMSC monitoring and position transitions to connected state, and in this state sends cell use this approach. This requires connects the network to estimation through several updates to the core network (MSC), and so the position is monitoring vehicular traffic and external circuit switched methods made possible known to the CN at the accuracy of a cell. through the third generation network utilization levels over networks while the GGSN mobile communications periods of time and drawing plays a similar role standards (3GPP, Third inferences based on statistical providing connectivity to Generation Partnership models for mobility that may not external IP networks. MM Detached Project). Broadly they can provide us with a solution with In 3G parlance the Node B be categorized in to passive the required reliability. refers to the base station IMSI a ach/LA update and active methods. terminal on A candidate for a position and (BTS), and the BTS and the base station controller In general, “passive” mobility estimating method is IMSI detach (BSC) together form a base MM Idle MM techniques utilize the the deployment of an application Connected station subsystem (BSS). available signaling between developed for the mobile phone. Call setup/ LA update Similarly the NodeB the mobile phone and The smart phone operating Call complete together with the radio telecommunications systems present such an network controller (RNC) network elements in opportunity with their operating forms a radio network determining an estimate for system “object models” making subsystem (RNS). the location of the available position and speed subscriber within the measurements. One could network. Typically the envisage an application network is optimized to developed for such an operating minimize signaling load and system that reports position and therefore we would only speed measurements to an obtain infrequent estimates external server that would not of the subscriber’s location suffer from the above drawbacks using these methods. or network bottlenecks. Unless a large number of such signaling updates are Location and Position aggregated over a Location in the 3GPP context is reasonably short space of a logical construct and places time, one would not be able the mobile within the logical to derive mobility information structure of the network. So with a reasonable degree of location is defined in terms of accuracy. cell, location area (LA) and routing area (RA). “Active” techniques on the other hand resort to Position refers to the techniques like paging the geographical coordinates. subscriber and requesting it Typically a location area (LA, together with the network to 2. The PS MM state machine (in GPRS Iu mode) consists of a detached (no link which is the construct utilized determine and report its between UE and network), idle and connected state. In the idle state the core network in the circuit switched domain) position. This can give very knows the position of the mobile to the accuracy of a RA. In connected state the position is larger than a routing area (RA, accurate results for the is known at the level of the serving radio network controller (SRNC) and it is the SRNC that which corresponds to the position of the subscriber tracks the UE in this state. depending on the particular construct used in the packet position estimating method switched domain), and can that is employed. This include one or more RA’s. A LA method however consumes usually encompasses a large considerable signaling number of cells. resources when used to page large numbers of The Network Elements subscribers and so a The following figure presents the practical solution would network elements and interfaces require an intelligent paging of the GSM and UMTS systems. scheme. In brief the MSC and VLR represent the switch and data Contd. on page 11... Sri Lanka Engineering News - November/December 2012 IESL NEWS 11
Contd. from page 10... Scenarios for Vehicular .... interfere with normal operation Observations of the handset as desired by Many of the techniques present practical difficulties 3. The GPRS MM state machine consists of the idle, ready and standby states. In the user. So a low sampling rate in arriving at a reliable the idle state SGSN doesn’t hold any location info. In the ready state the position is will have to be employed if this estimate for location/position known to the SGSN at the cell level, while in the standby state the position is known down mechanism is used. A lower and thereby are unsuitable for to the RA level. sample rate may mean lower accuracy depending on the traffic estimation in the local speed of the handset. Position context. Some of the can be estimated with sufficient techniques are however accuracy via one of the successfully deployed in methods described earlier. advanced economies that Currently most local networks have different subscriber support only cell id based densities and network position estimation, thus topologies to the local context. Estimating Position establishes a radio resource shorten these timer periods impacting the required The Universal Mobile connection (RRC) and accuracy of the position even for a few selected cells The handset based Telecommunications System transitions to the connected estimates. Thus these active as the timer is an RNC application offers the best (UMTS, or 3G) provides mode. However there are methods as implemented in our wide parameter. Thus solution to determining several methods for RRC states that allow for the market also do not hold much passive methods do not subscriber’s position and estimating the position of a transference of small promise for accurate position provide us with a sufficient speed given the current user with varying degrees of amounts of data (like in Cell estimation and vehicular traffic number of location updates constraints of the network accuracy. Typically FACH) without consuming monitoring. within a short space of time operators. It does not suffer positioning accuracy is also large amounts of radio to derive vehicular speed from the constraints of the function of radio propagation resources. This may provide A handset based estimates even if custom existing operators network measurements. In principal a suitable alternative to Application software is installed in the configurations and also offers the main techniques location requests emanating core network to extract the the best estimate in terms of employed for UMTS are from the network, provided This solution requires GPS time / location of the accuracy. Initial discussions handset power consumption enabled smart phones, Android corresponding update with a local software vendor 1. Cell ID based due to repeated transfer of is a case in point that has an messages. was able to establish the positioning, where location information to the object model that allows technical feasibility of the location of the network, doesn’t become an position and speed to be Active methods for designing an application for base station is used issue. sampled and reported to an estimating position and an Android phone for as the reference external system. It has less speed example that reports 2. Observed time Passive methods for implications for network Active methods holds position/speed to an external difference of arrival estimating position and signaling load. Uplink reporting some promise if the system. (based on the speed number of paging of position can be done in a observed time This method utilizes state (RRC Cell FACH) that can messages doesn’t get out There are however several difference in the signaling measurements transfer small amounts of of hand and overloads the factors related to market primary pilot arising from the normal intermittent data. This would signaling in the network. outlined earlier that need to channel slot) operation of the network. So require an application to be Once an initial location be fulfilled for a successful between two cells it utilizes location updates, installed on the handset that estimate is made, one launch despite there being no as measured at the routing area updates and would have to utilize an periodically reports position / mobile.) cell update messaging. A speed with user’s permission. 3. Assisted GPS, location update message where a GPS triggered when a user enabled mobile crosses a location together with the boundary/ (or location network determine update timer expiry) does its position. convey the cell information to the core, subsequently These methods require the however the position of the intervention of the network to user is known with the transition the user equipment accuracy of a location area in to a state, usually through which is a collection of many a location request where the cells. A routing area update measurements can be made message is generated when and so fall in to the active a routing area changes category. A potential strategy when a GPRS terminal is to limit the number of paging attached to the PS domain. messages and hence the signaling load on the network A workable solution for traffic would be then to page only a estimation would require a selected subset of the large number of such update intelligent paging strategy However handset power technical barrier. The subscribers possibly taking messages from subscribers to only page those user requirement of enabling GPS for active methods of paging in to account their current on a particular road segment equipment that are in the extended periods needs to be can also be used but it locations of interest. The location. Thus once a at frequent intervals to evaluated. presents several practical current location based position has been determine location and difficulties requiring a established for a user, the speed. Currently most services (LBS) It is believed that there are in more complex solution application will have to network operator equipment implementations at the excess of 200,000 GPS determine if further location doesn’t cache a record of operators utilizes paging to enabled smart phones in the and so the safest option requests will be sent to that location updates, so the determine UE location, Colombo district alone which will be to utilize a handset user. In this way one could time dimension needed for however the number of should provide the needed based application. An envisage reducing the a speed calculation is not transactions it supports will handset density running the algorithm will need to be number of paging messages available. However solutions not be sufficient to application to give a reliable developed that will needed to establish the in other markets do utilize determine the positions of traffic estimate. The application aggregate the position positions of a group of the timing information a large number of users will have to be packaged in an estimates sampled from needed to make speed subscribers. provided by regular location attractive “traffic information” across the network to estimates in a number of updates possibly through application to appeal to users provide estimates for On the other hand the newer custom software solutions locations simultaneously. and make them install the app vehicular traffic speed on smart phones with GPS made within the core Thus a strategy that pages on their handsets. This method capability will have constant network to make this only a selected number of is future proof as the number of selected highways. This awareness of their current estimate. subscribers depending on smart phones with GPS too does not present a location and speed and only their estimated positions positioning capability will technical barrier to require that these Location update timers in will need to be used. increase with time and the cost successful measurements are most networks have been of such handsets decline in implementation. transferred to an external set at several hours to Repeated and periodic price resulting in a large server. This will also require minimize signaling and it paging can also impact the proportion of the subscribers that the UE periodically would not be possible to user experience and owning such handsets. Sri Lanka Engineering News - November/December 2012 12 IESL NEWS
Þ He was practical Contd. from page 3.... and above all the perils of and hands-on: Drove Ruhunu CPD Course on today! But, we fail to learn Engineering the Kumari at her first voyage to from all those and design Extra Low Voltage Systems, Transformation.... Matara, did many of timing and build a future, where we trials for trains, personally courage, the commitment can prosper. That I consider Certificate Awarding made time tables for express and the zest. is the greatest challenge trains Ceremony Regrettably, personal that engineers has to face benefits and privileges are and conquer. During my research, I came he course on Extra Low Voltage Systems, organized by prioritized and the lack of across this unique tribute the Continues Professional Development Committee in The Leader & Manager in genuine leadership and paid to him by none other collaboration with the Building Services Sectional Com- BDR T unity has become the bane than Mr. Rohan Mathes, who mittee conducted from 3rd Nov. to 8th Dec 2012 (Six Saturdays) of our society. What made it possible for served as the Director concluded on Saturday, 15th December 2012 with the awarding Innovativeness, change of late Eng. Rampala to Publicity of IESL, in a piece of certificates to the 30 participants. attitudes, openness to accomplish what he wanted he published in The Nation. to do? forge new grounds, coupled Engineering the Having researched on this with courage and Transformation commitment can easily illustrious personality, and I quote: engineer transformation in having realized what he has “Engineers of the calibre of a society. Essentially, been able to achieve in Rampala, undoubtedly added transformation within short-span of about 35 the much needed lustre and oneself is necessary to years, and of my personal prestige to the engineering implement transformation experiences in motivating fraternity of the yesteryear. It in the society. changes that had taken place in my own industry in goes without saying that the I am of the view, that today Sri Lanka, I am not only present Railways have the engineers had become hopeful, but confident that if survived the hard times and mere followers, and not we play a positive and active are yet ‘free-wheeling’, based leaders, doers and not role in engineering sector, on the strength, stamina and thinkers, builders but not the transformation will the momentum picked up necessarily the designers undoubtedly happen in the and left behind by Engineers A participant receiving her certificate from Eng. of a better future! right direction, bringing of the calibre of Rampala, (Prof.)(Mrs) N.Ratnayake, Vice President and Chairper- It could be the development greater benefit to the Sri over three decades ago. son of the CPD Committee and Eng.S.S.Gunawardana, of rural roads or the multi- Lankan at large. Albeit armed with the Chairman, Building Services Engineering Sectional million dollar highways, Eng. Rampala had to be the theoretical know-how, he was Committee. small mini-hydro power catalyst, the change agent, more of a pragmatic engineer stations or mega thermal the leader, directing and who had the capability to power stations, small enabling the change offer practical and sanctuaries and fishery process to the National instantaneous solutions to harbours or mega ports, but Transportation System in the problems at hand. it is us, the engineers who the late fifties and sixties. He was not solely a results- should do what is right, Our recognition of and oriented and shining what needs to be done, be tributes to late Eng. Engineer. He was also a the leaders and steer the Rampala is not only Manager ‘par excellence’ transformation forward. because of eminency in and a strict disciplinarian of We all talk about the engineering, but also the highest order. As the first resplendent past, the because he was successful Ceylonese GMR, Rampala values that our in leading and managing the cut the first sod of soil in the predecessors possessed, change. land of ‘Railways’ in his and the good of the past Motherland, to yield a Section of the participants at the awarding of certificates. Some of the salient qualities bountiful harvest for the future of late Eng. Rampala, which generations in the waiting”. IESL Centenary Publication – Latest Release I managed to collate, are as Isn’t he a good role model for follows. He possessed in- all engineers? depth subject knowledge, I thank the IESL, especially Book on and to be dubbed as the the Mechanical Engineering ‘Cleverest Engineer, East of Sectional Committee, for the Suez. “ Development and Utilization of Power organizing this memorial Þ Had the ability to lecture in remembrance of and Energy in Sri Lanka” foresee what is to be late Eng. Rampala for the expected and to take yeomen service that he had precautionary measures for extended to the nation and The last in the series of six volumes on the different any of technical issues in the its Chairman, Eng. Asantha sectors of engineering published in connection with work area, troubleshoot the Sumanaratna, for inviting me the centenary commemorations of the Institution of cause of failed engine from and encouraging me to deliver Engineers, Sri Lanka was released coinciding with his desk itself. this lecture. It had been a wonderful learning experience the inaugural session of the IESL held in October Þ He was able to for me to go through his life 2012. The book titled “Development and recover the train system story, trying to understand Utilization of Power and Energy in Sri Lanka – A after floods within 6 weeks in 1957, did not chase the quintessence of his Brief Overview” documents the important events illustrious work. I am sure it and activities, the progress, the status and future behind promotions or recognition, appreciate his will be so, to many of you as prospects of the Power and Energy Sector in the well. country and have valuable inputs from important juniors Values: sensitive to personalities associated with the sector. the culture of the country, In conclusion, I wish to Understand people and express my thanks to those guide them, Simplicity in who made me achieve what I Edited jointly by Vidya Jyothi (Prof.) K.K.Y.W. Perera – Senior Consultant, lifestyle; selected only a am today: to and all those Ministry of Power and Energy and Eng. (Prof.) H.Y Ranjith Perera – Department normal vehicle (Austin A7) who assisted and supported of Electrical Engineering, University of Moratuwa, the hardcover book with an when offered for his post me in my endeavours.. attractive dust jacket is priced at Rupees Two Thousand Five Hundred (Rs Þ Always addressed Life, as I see, is a continuous 2,500/=). human welfare, adopted process of from the world but adapted Copies could be obtained from the Finance Section of the IESL Secretariat at TRANSFORMATION, and them to the local context, some have the opportune and 120/15, Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 07, during office hours from Mondays to introduced locally build the fortune to help Fridays except on government declared holidays. trailer coaches for CGR, TRANSFORM lives of many Contact: Director - Finance local architecture in satiation others! building. Tel : 011 2698426 Thank you and enjoy life!
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