BSc Degree in Irrigation Engineering soon

Suraj A Bandara

Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said a BSc Degree for Irrigation Engineering will be introduced to Sri Lanka soon aiming to produce at least 100 irrigation engineering graduates annually.

He was addressing the 39th annual Irrigation Engineers Conference at the Irrigation Department auditorium.

"Discussions were held with the University Grants Commission (UGC) in this regard", he said.

Irrigation engineers will be offered scholarships to pursue higher studies overseas and incentives will also be offered when they are assigned to irrigation projects with foreign aid, he said.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has instructed the minister to form a national policy on irrigation and many programmes have been earmarked to be inaugurated within 10 years, he added.

Two technological colleges will also be set up in Peradeniya and Kothmale to address the severe shortage of technical officers in the country, the minister said. At present, the Galagauwa Training Centre functions as the only training centre for technological officers.

"Agriculture and irrigation engineers are able to make use of their skills and knowledge for the most effective use of biological resources in agriculture and irrigation. Therefore, they are also referred to as biological engineers".

"They are able to design agriculture and irrigation machinery, equipment and structures which are used for storing crops. Some engineers have specialization in areas such as power systems and machinery designing. They are able to find ways to conserve natural resources such as soil and water," the minister added.

"The work of into agriculture and irrigation ingineers involves looking after the automation of agricultural activities so that food productivity increases, he said. Irrigation and Water Resources Management Ministry Secretary Iwan de Silva, Irrigation Director General Dr. P.G.A. Godaliyadda and irrigation engineers attended the event.