Growing up confidently believing that girls can do anything they want – blissfully oblivious to and free from the influences of stereotyping - is one certain way for a girl to take a path leading to a ‘male-dominated’ career; that is exactly how Professor Niranjanie Ratnayake (nee Kodikara) grew up. Strong support from a mother who believed in and ensured her sound education, and all-girls schools – Anula and Visakha – in late 50s and early 60s where she was sheltered from the stereotypes, enhanced that confidence in young Niranjanie. This upbringing, coupled with her aptitude for all things mathematical, curiosity of anything scientific, being the youngest with STEM (Science, technology engineering and mathematics) oriented siblings, and the determination to follow engineering despite being offered a full scholarship to enrol instead in a science degree, was the recipe for her successful propulsion into the field of Engineering with a first class honours from the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Peradeniya in 1974.

During her illustrious career of 43 years Prof. Ratnayake delivered dual expertise in the field of environmental engineering – in academia and engineering industry. Her contributions to teaching, research, academic administration at the University of Moratuwa and multiple other academic/research/expert/professional institutes and panels are just as well-known as her leadership in providing solutions to real-world issues requiring engineering input. Although her official ‘retirement’ is looming - she delivered her last undergraduate lecture last month amidst great appreciation of the students and staff alike - she has not at all slowed down contributing significantly to engineering profession. It is an honour for all women engineers that Prof. Niranjanie Ratnayake is the president-elect of IESL for 2017/2018. Prior to this she has served at numerous positions within the IESL ranging from being Chairpersons of the Civil Engineering Sectional Committee and the Women Engineers’ Forum (WEF), to council member representing Fellows and Vice President of IESL. Of these roles, the most beneficial to the women engineers in Sri Lanka was her work with the WEF. She continues to be an ardent supporter promoting participation and career progression of women in engineering.

As Prof. Ratnayake very correctly says, women engineers have to at times compensate by brains what they lack in brawn, particularly in engineering industry. Very often, they also have to do more to get the same recognition as their male counterparts. Most engineers have to work long hours to perform well and succeed in engineering. For Prof Ratnayake, nature of her work meant that she was able to balance her work and family commitments by burning night oil to complete her professional work from home while raising a family of three children. Her engineering professor husband has always been the key supporter for her rise to the pinnacle by understanding the challenges a woman faces in career progression and giving her the necessary space, freedom, and support when needed.

In a world where female engineers are far outnumbered by male engineers, she has not only been an exemplary figure to all female engineers, engineering academics, and engineering students in general, but also a trailblazer in academia of Sri Lanka; she is the first female engineering professor in a Sri Lankan university. When this fact is brought to the fore as a significant achievement by a woman in the field of engineering in Sri Lanka, she humbly reminds that Dr. Premala Sivasegaram was the first lady engineer in Sri Lanka and Mrs. Lanka Hathurusinghe was the first lady president of the IESL. Blessed with such trailblazers among the membership of the IESL and the WEF, it is only natural to expect the women engineers to be able to not only carve a significantly better future for the women engineers in Sri Lanka, but also attract more young women to choose engineering as an attractive career choice. 2017/2018 is going to be a decisive year for women engineers with Prof. Ratnayake at the helm of the IESL. She recently teamed up with the Chairperson of WEF Eng. Mangala Wickramanayake and Dr. Achela Fernando, an adjunct senior lecturer of Griffith School of Engineering, to initiate a survey to gather information on the status quo of women engineers in Sri Lanka. This is the first survey of this kind in Sri Lanka and with the information gathered, the aim is to assess the invisible but real barriers for women engineers and propose and implement ways to ameliorate their effects while promoting STEM among girls from a young age.

WEF celebrates the successful career of this remarkable female engineer and wish to thank Prof. Ratnayake for her selfless contributions to female engineers in particular and engineering in general.

Article by:

Dr. Achela Fernando | Adjunct Senior Lecturer | Griffith School of Engineering Nathan Campus, Australia

Eng. Mangala Wickramanayake | Chair/ Women Engineers Forum/IESL