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| Monday, 2 August 2004 |
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by Dinushika Dissanayake The 30th anniversary of the National Engineering Research and Development (NERD) centre will be celebrated on August 12 at their industrial estate in Ekala, Ja-ela, its Chairman, Jayantha Ranatunga said on Friday. The objective of the NERD centre which was established in 1974, is to develop local technology in diverse spheres and to give technological support to local industrialists. In celebration of their 30th anniversary a large recycling plant will be inaugarated in Muthurajawela under the patronage of the Science and Technology Minister, Tissa Witharane. 16 tanks, each with a capacity of 40 tons of waste have been built especially for the purpose. The foundation stone for a technological museum will also be laid on this day to compliment the technological park that was built in 1999 on their 25th anniversary. This park has a minimum of 200 visitors a day, most of whom are schoolchildren. In addition a technical exhibition will be held on August 12 with 25 stalls being exhibited by institutions such as the Arthur C. Clarke Centre and similar institutions related to the NERD. A highlight will be a stall by young inventors chosen in the Young Inventors Competetion held annually by the Engineers association. Cultural items performed by children from neighbouring schools will also be a part of the celebrations. The exhibition will be open to all and entrance will be free. The exhibition will be followed by a seminar on August 13 on the research done and the commercially viable projects that have been developed by the Centre, aimed at an audience of recognized engineers in the field. Jayantha Ranatunga said that the NERD centre had developed substantially since its inaugaration. "we started with 5 engineers. Today we have 50 engineers and 400 employees," he said. The industrial Centre which is spread over 9 acres of land, houses some of the best technological knowledge and equipment in Sri Lanka, ranging from low cost costruction systems to dehusking of coconuts. General manager of the NERD centre M. W. Leelaratne added that engineers who were responsible for technological breakthroughs at the Centre will be recognized on this occasion and that all the employees will be rewarded for their contributions to the centre. |
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