WOMEN ENGINEERS’ DAY CELEBRATION & 12th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE 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 Key Note 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 the 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 Key Note Speaker of the event was a young lady engineer resides 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 any one 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 were elected as the Editor, the Assistant Editor and Assistant Treasurer respectively. Accordingly, WEF of IESL enthusiastically waiting to serve the women engineers in Sri Lanka with more creative, inspirational, and innovative thoughts for the year 2021/2022 session.
Executive Committee of WEF is comprised of 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
