Dear Members,

I had the pleasure recently of visiting the New South Wales (Australia) Chapter, the very first overseas chapter of the IESL, gracing the 7th Annual Engineering Convention of the Chapter. The event comprised of the Engineers Nite or the ‘Gala Dinner’ and the Engineering Conference that preceded it. I am proud of the rapid progress the chapter has made since its inception in 2009 and the networking they have achieved as evidenced by number of Industry experts, academia and many distinguished guests including President of Engineers Australia, Sydney Division Ms. Julie Mikhail, President-elect for the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO), Dr. Marlene Kanga gracing the event. The event also had the prestige of having Emeritus Professor Rohan Lucas as the keynote speaker.

I should mention specially the offers of technical support that I received during my visit towards helping those affected by the recent floods and landslides in Sri Lanka. Towards facilitating this I had discussions with the Mr. Lal Wickramatunge - Consul General of Sri Lanka in Sydney, Australia and hope to create a pathway for such help to flow without problems.

In the meantime our student protégées continued their winning strides in the international arena when they won two Grand awards and special award at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair 2017 in Los Angeles, California, USA the world’s largest high school science & engineering research competition. Participating by virtue of being a winner of the Junior Inventor of the Year 2016 competition Master Wishwajith Gangodawila from Narammala Mayurapada Central College won fourth award in the Engineering Mechanics category at the Grand Award Ceremony for his unique project titled ‘Systematic Wall Constructing Tool’. This is the 14th occasion JIY winners have won recognition at an international level”. It was a great privilege for me to accompany the Sri Lanka contingent to the Intel ISEF 2017.

Techno Sri Lanka 2017, the national engineering and technology exhibition to be held for the 32nd consecutive had a very successful launch on Monday, 12th June, 2017 at the Hotel Galadari. Business heads of several leading lndustries and organizations related to engineering and technology and the media were among the packed audience. Eng. Karunasena Hettiarachchi, Defence Secretary graced the event as the chief guest.

The Techno Sri Lanka 2017 Exhibition theme would be "Empowering innovation" with the Tag line "Smart, Inventive, Disruptive Technologies for Sustainable development". Collaboration with the universities and the private sector, will introduce several competitions that will encourage and promote smart, inventive, disruptive technologies among the younger generation.

Features like Building Clinic, Short Seminars, Car Clinic, special areas for display of Junior Inventor of the Year and Undergraduate Inventor of the Year innovations will function regularly with much appeal from specified target groups as well as the general public visiting the exhibition

A unique feature to this years’ exhibition would be the Ministry of Defence Pavilion where the 3 armed forces will exhibit their R & D exhibits. This will be the first of its kind, at an exhibition in Sri Lanka. The visiting professionals as well as the general public will recognize the engineering, research and development strength of our own armed forces under this pavilion.

I invite all our members, along with their families, to visit the exhibition and make it a big success.

Thank you.

Eng. Jayavilal Meegoda
President, Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka
President, Federation of Engineering Institutions of Central and South Asia