Engineering education in Sri Lanka

K. D. DUMINDUSENA

Engineering is considered as the practical application of scientific principles directing the great sources of power in nature for the use and convenience of the man.

It is recorded that engineering education in the country has been started after an independence granted by British Colonial administration. The purpose of this article is to examine the expansion of engineering education in Sri Lanka and its contribution to the economic development.

During the post independence period engineering education has contributed the valuable service for the development of the country. And how far this contribution is affected to the development of the country is an objective of this article.

History

Historical monuments, like Dagabos, Tanks, irrigation canals and stone sculptures situated in Anuradapura, Polonnaruwa, Kandy and Ruhuna areas, reveal that there was some sort of developed engineering system in ancient Sri Lanka.

Modern engineers wondered about the ancient technology used in irrigation system. The Bissokotuwa and scale of steep of irrigation canals are the examples which were constructed by the people in ancient Sri Lanka.

This information provided us there was a developed technology in ancient Sri Lanka. Similarly, we can believe that there was some sort of engineering education under indigenous education system in ancient Sri Lanka.

Technical education

Western type education system has been commenced with the arrival of European nation to the country in 16th and 17th centuries. During the British Colonial period plantation sector was developed. British rulers started to cultivate coffee and tea in the upcountry lands.

With the development of plantation sector, network of railway roads and main roads were became the required infrastructure facilities.

British rulers had to bring engineers and technicians from England for the construction work of railway roads and main roads. In addition English engineers and technicians were served in the construction work of Colombo harbour, Government factory and other engineering works in the country.

The Ceylon University College was founded in 1921 to prepare students for the University of London’s external degree examinations in Arts and Science.

The College awarded 30 scholarships to follow external degree in the University of London and reserved two scholarships for science students to follow engineering degree courses.

The main activity of the Ceylon Technical College was the preparation of students for the Associate Membership Examinations of the three major professional institutions in Britain in this time. During the period 1942 - 1950, there were 210 professional engineers in the country out of them, 104 were graduated from University of London.

University education

The University of Ceylon was established in 1942 with the amalgamation of Ceylon Medical College and Ceylon University College with effect from July 1, 1942 later on accepted the policy to establish a Faculty of Engineering in the University of Ceylon.

The University of Ceylon set up the Faculty of Engineering on July 1, 1950 and temporary it was located in Colombo.

At the beginning, the faculty started with three departments civil, electrical and mechanical engineering and admitted 25 students for the engineering courses first time. The Engineering Faculty was housed in the premises of the university at Reid Avenue, Colombo and practical were held in the Technical College, Maradana from 1950 - 1964.

After completion of Buildings at Peradeniya, Faculty of Engineering was moved to Peradeniya University ground.

Professor E.O.E.Pereira was the first Dean of the Faculty of Engineering. The intake for the university admission were increased from 25 in 1950, to 150 in 1964 and 250 in1979.

More than 8,000 graduates were passed out from the Faculty of Engineering in University of Peradeniya during the period of 1950 to 2005.

Expansion of engineering education

In 1972, under the provision of University Act No 1 of 1972, Ceylon College of Technology, at Katubedda was promoted to university status and it was founded as Katubedda Campus under single University of Sri Lanka.

Under the provisions of the Universities Act No 17 of 1978, it was become as the University of Moratuwa with effect from 01.01.1979. At the beginning there were two Faculties for Engineering and Architecture. Before obtained the university status, Ceylon College of Technology conducted courses for National Diploma Technology in Civil.

Electrical and Mechanical streams and it was continued under University of Moratuwa also. Now it has three faculties viz; Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Architecture and Faculty of Information Technology and student population is about 4,000.

The Faculty of Engineering, attached to the University of Ruhuna was founded in 1999 at Hapugala, Galle.

At the beginning about 100 students were admitted for the engineering courses. There are four departments and about 500 students are studied at present.

Students for the university engineering degree courses are selected on the result of G.C.E.(A/L) examination in physical stream by the University Grants Commission annually.

The University Grants Commission admitted about 1,100 students to the engineering faculties of universities of Peradeniya, Moratuwa and Ruhuna. The universities provide education to students in basic disciplines of civil, electrical and electronics, mechanical, production, chemical and information technology. In addition Sri Lankan universities postgraduate courses are offered in MSc, MPhill, MBA and PhD.

Institutional engineering education

Despite universities, some institutions provide education for students in engineering discipline to award the degrees, diplomas and certificates and training and also Open University of Sri Lanka started engineering and technology courses to provide education under distance education scheme for the award of degree, diploma and certificate.

Technical Colleges, Hardy Technical Institute, Katunayake Technical institute, Advanced Technical Institute, Katubedda Higher Technical Institute, German Technical College are the institutions that provide education and training in related to engineering disciplines to train technicians, mechanists and other skilled professionals.

Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka

In 1906, the engineers who have been worked in the country established a new association as named ‘Association of Engineers’. It was oldest premier body representing engineering profession in Sri Lanka.

This apex body was incorporated by Parliament Act in 1968 under the Provision of Act No 17 of 1968 and amended Act No 3 of 1996 as Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka (IESL).

This institute conducts a degree engineering courses and continuing professional development courses to promote the career progress of profession. IESL offers individual and corporate memberships. There are five categories of memberships.

The types of membership of IESL are Fellow, Honorary Fellow, Member, Associate Member and Students Member. The membership provides access to a network of knowledge and opportunity to develop own expertise in profession.

Engineers who have been obtained engineering education from Sri Lankan universities and other higher educational institutes, made a significant contribution in the construction work of roads, bridges, irrigation canals and tanks, hydro power systems, buildings and other major development programmes after independence.

Modern development of the country is a fruit of contribution of the service of engineers who had obtained under engineering education in Sri Lanka. Engineering education has been expanded during the post independence period with the development of secondary and higher education in Sri Lanka.

(The writer is Director/Education, Examination & Training, Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka)