The much awaited Engineering council bill passed in the parliament on 23 rd February 2017. This was as a result of at least three decades of hard work of our members of IESL and the past and current leadership of the Institution with the blessings of political representation who believed that country shall have registered professional practitioners in field of Engineering and Technology.

The IESL had been conferring the Chartered Engineer status to the engineering practitioners with suitable academic qualifications and experience after a rigorous performance review. With the Engineering Council Act , the Chartered Engineer conferred by IESL in Sri Lanka has been kept at the top of professional hierarchy. The other categories including Associate Engineers, Affiliate Engineers, Incorporated Engineers, Engineering technicians ..etc have been identified with relevant qualifications and each such practitioner has to be registered with new Engineering Council(EC).

The country will benefit by being able to utilize correct resource to specific work. Often professional accountability in engineering works had been taken for granted in past. Through this new framework such bad practitioners will face serious consequences including cancellation of their licenses and even may face litigation. Professional registration therefore ensures the current and future safeguarding of our society.

For practicing individuals this act brings numerous benefits once registered. Improved carrier prospects and employability, proof of the expertise, higher earning potential, national and international recognition, enhanced self-esteem and social status are few of them.

In next few months we expect to see this council coming into operation. IESL representing majority members in this council shall play the leading role.

Eng. Indika Walpitage
Indika.walpitage@gmail.com