IESL to unveil Corporate Plan

To meet country's rapid development drive:

Ramani Kangaraarachchi

The Institute of Engineers Sri Lanka (IESL) is in the process of preparing its new Corporate Plan 2012 to 2016 incorporating the new developments, new goals, new opportunities and upcoming threats expecting to provide a more refined roadmap to achieve the IESL goals.

Outgoing IESL President Professor Ananda Jayawardena told at the 105th annual sessions inauguration at BMICH on Friday that the engineering profession has the proud recognition as a nation building profession, wealth creating profession, and the profession which contributes the most in raising the standard of living of the people.

The IESL established over 100 years ago to address the interests of the engineers and the engineering profession has now grown to over 15,000 members covering all engineering disciplines, serving all sectors of the economy, in many industries, working in all geographical areas including other countries with increased scope of its activities.

He said at a time the country is going through rapid economic development of over 8% growth, already witnessing many mega infrastructure projects, increased foreign direct investment, emphasis on social management systems, increased attention to research and development, innovation and entrepreneurship, there is no better time to make a significant impact making the engineering profession more important and dominant.

Prof Jayawardena said in order to provide a concerted effort, a more focused direction and a proactive approach by the IESL is needed. He declared his tenure as the 'year of outreach' and to work on enhancing the image of profession and professional practice, raise the international standing of the IESL, to enhance member services and membership, and position the IESL as an important educational provider. The IESL was able to achieve significant progress in all these four goals.

He said that IESL made several other representations on national issues meeting the High Commissioner of India and Department of Commerce on CEPA, Ministers of Power and Energy and Transport on Railway Electrification, Minister of Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities on Construction Industry Development Act (CIDA) and for an improved construction industry, Director National Planning offering expert advice of IESL for prioritizing, formulating and monitoring of mega national infrastructure projects and proposals for preparation of 2012 National Budget.