Women Engineers’ Day Celebration &
12th Annual General Meeting of The Women Engineers’ Forum

By Women Engineers’ Forum

Women Engineers’ Forum (WEF) of the IESL marked the International Women’s day by holding The Women Engineers’ Day 2021 and the 12th Annual General Meeting on March 15, 2021 from 6.30 pm onwards on Zoom online platform with the participation of women engineers representing industry as well as academia. The event was graced by several Prominent Personalities in the field of Engineering. Eng. (Ms.) Lanka Haturusinghe, the first lady president of IESL, was the Chief Guest of the event and (Ms). Lilangie Jayasuriya was the KeyNote Speaker. They were joined by other distinguished guests, the president of IESL, Eng. K.P.I.U. Dharmapala, the president elect of IESL, Eng. Arjuna Manamperi, CEO of IESL, Eng. Neil Abeysekara, Past presidents of IESL, past chairpersons of WEF of IESL, council members, fellow women engineers of IESL and other distinguished invitees.

The gathering was warmly welcomed by the chairperson, WEF of IESL 2020/2021, Eng. (Ms.) Devika Abeysuriya. The event was enlightened by the speech delivered by the Chief Guest Eng. (Ms.) Lanka Haturusinghe where she shared her valuable experience as an excellent Engineer as well as a great lady who led the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka as the First lady president in history. She expressed her thoughts on women empowerment and her humble actions taken for the betterment of women engineers in Sri Lanka by initiating IESL Women Engineer’s Forum.

The KeyNote Speaker of the event was a young lady engineer residing in Australia, Ms. Lilangie Jayasuriya who is a Chartered Protection and Control Engineer, Secondary Systems Engineering Manager at Metro Trains, Melbourne, Australia. During her inspiring, exciting speech she shared her life story of facing challenges, breaking barriers, and grabbing opportunities as a lady engineer in a male dominant field. She shared her career experience, challenges and achievements emphasizing the importance of spiritual and moral development.

The special invitation was given to Eng. (Ms.) Chathurangi Edussuriya who won the COINS grand challenge in 2019 of undergraduate category and Investment prize of the COINS grand challenge to share her achievements to encourage the membership, especially the budding engineers in the country. In her speech she emphasized that anyone should never underestimate their own talents and at the same time believe in yourself and can-do attitude can change anyone’s final destination.

The tokens of appreciations were displayed online and the Women Engineers’ Day was adjourned with the vote of thanks by the Joint Secretary, WEF of IESL 2020/2021, Eng. (Ms) Dulmini Indrasiri.

IESL Women Engineers’ Day 2021 was followed by the 12th Annual General Meeting of WEF from 8.30 pm onwards. Eng. (Ms.) Devika Abeysuriya was re-elected as the chairperson for the WEF of IESL for the year 2021/2022 session. Eng. (Ms.) Sriyani Abeywickrama was selected as the Vice Chairperson. Eng. (Ms.) Dulmini Indrasiri was re-elected as a joint Secretary and Eng. (Ms.) Sajani Thotagamuwa was also appointed as a joint Secretary. Eng. (Ms.) Kalpana Balasooriya was appointed as the Treasurer and Eng. (Ms.) Lilani Ruhunage was appointed as the Social Secretary. Eng. (Ms.) Thanuja Fernando, Eng. (Ms.) Indra P. Seevarathnam and Eng. (Ms.) Zahra Marzook was elected as the Editor, the Assistant Editor and Assistant Treasurer respectively. Accordingly, WEF of IESL enthusiastically waits to serve the women engineers in Sri Lanka with more creative, inspirational, and innovative thoughts for the year 2021/2022 session.

The Executive Committee of WEF has the following members for the Session 2021/2022.

Eng. (Ms.) Devika Abeysuriya		Chairperson
Eng. (Ms.) Sriyani Abeywickrama		Vice Chairperson
Eng. (Ms.) Dulmini Indrasiri		Joint Secretary
Eng. (Ms.) Sajani Thotagamuwa		Joint Secretary
Eng. (Ms.) Kalpana Balasooriya		Treasurer
Eng. (Ms.) Zahra Marzook		Assistant Treasurer
Eng. (Ms.) Thanuja Fernando		Editor
Eng. (Ms.) Indra P. Seevarathnam		Assistant Editor
Eng. (Ms.) Lilani Ruhunuge		Social Secretary
Eng. (Ms.) Ranjani Perera		Committee Member
Eng. (Ms.) Nayana Wijesiriwardhene		Committee Member
Eng. (Ms.) Champika Ranasinghe		Committee Member
Eng. (Ms.) Janaki Roopasinghe		Committee Member
Eng. (Ms.) Nadeeka widyasooriya		Committee Member
Eng. (Ms.) Hiranthi Janz		Committee Member
Eng. (Ms.) Kanthi Jayaweera		Committee Member
Eng. (Ms.) Priyadarshani Ranasinghe		Committee Member
Eng. (Ms.) J.T Hansika Chathurangani		Committee Member
Eng. (Ms.) Nadeera Sugandi		Committee Member
Eng. (Ms.) Kavitha Sanjeewan		Committee Member
Eng. (Ms.) Tarika Fernando		Committee Member

Eng. (Ms.) Lanka Haturusinha, Eng. (Prof.) N. Ratnayake, Eng. (Ms.) Vasantha Nallathamby, Eng. (Ms.) Badra Kamaladasa, Eng. (Ms.) Lakmini Nonis, Eng. (Ms.) Thamara Mallawaarchchi, Eng. (Ms.) Mangala Wickramanayake and Eng. (Ms.) Shayma Gunawardana are serving as the members of the Advisory committee.

Welcome address by the chairperson, WEF of IESL 2020/2021, Eng. (Ms.) Devika Abeysuriya

Key Note Speaker, Ms. Lilangie Jayasuriya, Chartered Protection and Control Engineer, Secondary Systems Engineering Manager at Metro Trains, Melbourne, Australia

Chief Guest, Eng. (Ms.) Lanka Haturusinghe, the first lady president of IESL

Eng. (Ms.) Chathurangi Edussuriya who won the COINS grand challenge in 2019 of undergraduate category and Investment prize of the COINS grand challenge

vote of thanks by Eng. (Ms) Dulmini Indrasiri, Joint Secretary of WEF

Minutes of the AGM held on March 13, 2020 by Eng. (Ms) Lilani Ruhunuge, Joint Secretary of WEF

Annual Report of WEF by Eng. (Ms) Kushmy Senarathne, Vice Chairperson of WEF

Statement of Expenditure of WEF by Eng. (Ms) Sriyani Abeywickrama, Treasurer of WEF

Session compered by Eng, (Ms.) Zahra Marzook, Ex-Co Member, WEF

Members of the Executive committee & Advisory committee of WEF 2021/2022