Turning Challenges into Triumphs: How I Made the Most of My Industrial Training Experience
By Eng. Hashan Thilakarathna
(An article by the Winner of the Migara Rathnatunga Trust Awards (2022/2023), presented by The Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka for the best performance during the Industrial Training under Civil Engineering Category)
From Confusion to Clarity - The Turning Point
Throughout my academic journey, I often heard professors emphasizing the importance of industrial experience, a phrase that sometimes felt repetitive in lecture halls. It wasn’t until I struggled to grasp concepts in concrete design that I realized the truth behind those words. No matter how well a lecturer explains something, some aspects of engineering can only be understood through hands-on experience.
Determined to make the most of my 20-week industrial training, I saw this as my chance to bridge the gap between theory and practice. With the support of my faculty’s industrial training unit, I secured a placement as a civil engineering intern with one of the country’s largest state-owned project consultancy firms. Little did I know this experience would shape not just my career but my perspective on engineering itself.
First Lessons - More Than Just Engineering
From my very first day, I learned that industrial training is not just about technical skills, it’s also about professionalism, adaptability, and resilience. Punctuality mattered, but not just in the way I had imagined. Arriving on time (not too early, not too late) and knowing whom to report to were small yet crucial aspects that made a big difference.
I was assigned to the consultant’s office at the site, where I had the incredible opportunity to work under the guidance of eight chartered engineers, each specializing in different aspects of the project: buildings, bridges, roads, and more. These were professionals who had contributed to some of Sri Lanka’s most notable infrastructure projects, including the Southern Expressway and Galle-Matara Railway Development.
Beyond their technical expertise, what stood out was their generosity. Being away from Colombo, I struggled with accommodation costs, but these engineers went beyond professional mentorship, and they treated me like a younger brother, offering guidance and support both in work and life.
A Project of Unparalleled Scale
The project itself was massive:
- 10 buildings, 8 of which were 10-story structures.
- Each floor spanned nearly an acre in area.
- A budget of Rs. 52 billion in 2020.
- Planned completion by September 2023.
From the very start, my colleague and I took the initiative to meet with all the engineers and develop our own training plan. This was key to ensuring we set learning goals, tracked our progress, and gained exposure to different aspects of the project systematically.
Key Lessons & Takeaways
After five months in the field, I walked away with invaluable experiences—some expected, others surprising. Here are the key lessons that shaped my journey and ultimately helped me win the Migara Rathnatunga Trust Award for Industrial Training (2022/2023).
1. Self-Motivation is Key>
Unlike corporate office jobs, where the environment itself may provide motivation, civil engineers step into sites filled with a thousand challenges. The only thing that keeps you going is internal drive—the passion to create something meaningful for society. Understanding that my work contributed to the infrastructure that served communities gave me purpose, even on the toughest days.
2. The OIEL Framework - a Strategy for Learning
At the site, there were no structured lectures, no assignments, no exams. I had to be my own lecturer, examiner, and student.
I followed a four-step learning process, which I now call the OIEL Framework:
- Observing: Watching how skilled laborers and experienced professionals handled tasks gave me an initial understanding of on-site operations.
- Inquiring: Asking questions to clarify gaps in my understanding. There are no stupid questions only missed opportunities to learn
- Experiencing: Getting hands-on involvement in tasks, whether small or large.
- Learning: Absorbing the insights gained from each stage, refining my approach, and improving continuously.
3. Resilience Matters more than you Think
A civil engineer’s life is not easy. Sites are physically demanding, mentally exhausting, and socially challenging. I quickly realized that being soft-spoken doesn’t always work, you need to be loud, confident, and assertive to make an impact. One phrase I often reminded myself of was: “කටේ සද්දෙයි - ඇඟේ හයියයි” (You need both a strong voice and physical resilience). At the same time, balancing work and personal well-being was crucial to avoiding burnout.
4. Playing the Game with a Clear Goal
Winning the Migara Rathnatunga Award didn’t happen by accident. I had my eyes set on it from day one. A mentor of mine, a previous award winner, had advised me on how to turn “worst cases into best experiences” during industrial training. Additionally, my faculty’s Industrial Training & Career Guidance Unit (ITCGU) played a huge role. Through structured pre-training webinars and knowledge-sharing sessions, they prepared us well, explaining:
- How to structure daily logs and reports
- Evaluation criteria for awards
- How to maximize the learning experience
Because of this preparation, I didn’t have to scramble at the last moment, I simply focused on delivering my best work consistently throughout the training.
Final Thoughts - More than just an internship!
Looking back, my industrial training was not just a practical requirement, it was a transformative experience. It gave me a solid foundation for my career, shaped my work ethic, and deepened my passion for civil engineering. I am deeply grateful to my mentors, lecturers, and senior engineers who guided me through this journey. Their support and mentorship have been invaluable, and I carry their lessons with me as I move forward in my professional career.
To aspiring engineers: Make the most of every opportunity. Step out of your comfort zone. Ask questions. Take the initiative. Your industrial training can be more than just a requirement, it can be the launchpad for your future. For anyone interested in learning more about my experience or reviewing my training documents, feel free to contact me on LinkedIn or access drive folder mentioned below!
Link for my profile: linkedin.com/in/hashan-thilakarathna98
Link for my training documents: https://bit.ly/TrainingDocsHashan
Eng. Hashan Thilakarathna
AMIE(SL), AEng (ECSL), Aff.M.ASCE, Aff.M.ISSMAGE, M.ISRM, M.SLRMES, M.SLGS, M.SLASS,
GREENSL®AssP, CCHRM (CIPM-SL).
BSc.Eng(Hons) (1st Class) (UoP)
Winner - Migara Rathnatunga Trust Awards for Industrial Training - Civil Engineering (2022/2023), The Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka
