Development drive gets into top gear

Text of the Address by Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Gitanjana Gunawardena at the Inco2012 Industrial Exhibition and Trade Fair at Sirimavo Bandaranaike International Exhibition Centre on June 17, 2012

I am happy to be here at the opening of the concluding day of inco 2012 Industrial Exhibition and Trade Fair. This gives me the opportunity to observe the initiatives of members of the Institution of Incorporated Engineers of Sri Lanka (IIESL) and their partners and guests in promoting the growth in the Engineering Industry. It also gives me the satisfaction for being able to renew my acquaintances with fellow engineers.

I congratulate the Institution of IIESL for the invaluable contribution it has been making to our society at large by showcasing annually for a full decade the strengths of the engineering fraternity of our motherland through the inco Industrial Exhibitions and Trade Fairs. Having been hosted by the organizers at this annual event over the past three years, I have been specially privileged to closely observe the progress that has been made by this annual event year by year - to become by now a highly customer focused and popular Exhibition and Trade Fair in Sri Lanka.

Engineering services

I observe with utmost satisfaction that the IIESL has once again succeeded in bringing together a substantial number of players in the construction Field and in industry representing an immensely diverse range under one roof at this inco 2012. It is now an important focal point for disseminating and sharing knowledge on advances made in engineering skills and technology.

Deputy Minister Gitanjana Gunawardena

The opportunity available here to interact with a wide cross section of exhibitors from Sri Lanka and overseas is invaluable. It helps me in refreshing my understanding of the needs in the development of engineering services. I thank Eng. Upali Gunaratne, President of the IIESL, Eng. Bandula Wimalasundara, chairman - inco 2012 and his Organizing Committee for inviting me to be with you at this event.

This annual event strengthens the unrelenting efforts in Sri Lanka under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to transform the motherland into a developed nation in the region by 2016. The dividends of the hard earned peace and tranquillity that was established by ending three decades of terrorism in the country through a uniquely successful humanitarian drive by our patriotic forces under the determined leadership of the President in 2009 are by now evident throughout the country.

The Defence Secretary, whose strategies ensured the defeat of LTTE and elimination of terrorism in the counry is now in charge of Urban Development as well and is proceeding with equal determination to ensure the achievement of the development goals of the government. Programmes of construction of economic infrastructure of unprecedented magnitude, roads and highways, harbours and airports, power and energy, works of water supply and sanitation and of township development - are being implemented vigorously. Community and livelihood development programmes as well as investments by local and foreign entrepreneurs in other sectors all require application of a range of engineering skills.

The success of inco 2012 reflects the build-up of organizational strengths of the Institution of Incorporated Engineers and indeed its commitment to serve and facilitate improvement in the engineering fields. The membership of the institute has grown to include over 5,000. The networking efficiency is being facilitated by developing organization spread across the country with already established regional chapters in Kurunegala, Gampaha and Galle as well as most importantly overseas in Dubai - where Sri Lankan engineering cardre is engaged in building world class edifices and engineering systems.

Foreign reserves

I take this opportunity to extend my warm greetings and deep appreciation to engineers and allied professionals and other engineering carder who are engaged overseas for the initiatives they are taking to network with the national institutions such as the Institute of Incorporated Engineers. I am well aware that a large number of them look forward to returning home and engaging fruitfully in contributing to the development of the motherland.

They will bring back with them their experiences in the newest applications in engineering and help consolidate transfer of technology back at home.

The need to have them back is already being strongly felt by the industry.

As you are aware the well being of our economy is seriously challenged by the ever increasing petroleum import bill that has put enormous pressure on our exchange rate and foreign reserves, thereby adversely affecting the livelihoods of the people. As such it is imperative that engineering professionals take steps to consume energy efficiently and economically to preserve our foreign reserves. Moreover, the engineering community must strive to improve the quality and standards of traditional and non traditional exports to fulfil the much needed requirement of increasing the value added exports to achieve a sustainable high economic growth.

The time is indeed ripe for concrete steps to be taken to bestow the ownership of taking the big leap forward in engineering to the robust engineering fraternity in our country.

The IIESL is well equipped to support and ensure such leap. The enthusiasm I had observed recently at the ceremonial laying of the foundation for constructing the new head quarters building of the IIESL at Battaramulla is a clear indication that once completed, the IIESL Headquarters will provide state of the art facilities and move forward with added vigour promoting the imperative and urgently needed growth in the engineering fields in Sri Lanka.

I wish the Institute of Incorporated Engineers of Sri Lanka every success and inco 2012 Industrial Exhibition and Trade Fair high achievement on this concluding day.

- Thank you!