FEATURED NEWS

Nalintha Wijayaweera, an undergraduate student from the Department of Civil Engineering, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, won the best oral presentation award at the recent international conference on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in Sri Lanka (DRRM 2023).

Chamal Jayaminda, a research scholar at the UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Center for South Asia Water Management (UMCSAWM) at the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, has won the best paper award in the Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering track at the Moratuwa Engineering Research Conference (MERCon) 2023.

In a momentous achievement, Professor Lalith Rajapakse, the Director/Centre Chairman of the UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Centre for South Asia Water Management (UMCSAWM), has been appointed as the UNESCO Chairholder for Sustainable Water Resources Management in South Asia. This distinguished honour comes under the prestigious UNITWIN (University Twinning and Networking) Program of UNESCO.

Department of Civil Engineering commenced its Intra-Laboratory Equipment Training program for non-academic staff of the department on 12th October 2023. The launch of this program marked its initial phase and was inaugurated in the presence of Prof. (Mrs.) Chintha Jayasinghe, the Head of the Department. This comprehensive program has spanned nearly all the laboratories within the department. Its primary objectives include the facilitation of knowledge exchange among technical officers and laboratory support staff, as well as the enhancement of awareness and familiarity with the laboratory facilities.

The "Skill Up with CES" lecture series is a transformative initiative aimed at providing valuable insights and knowledge to aspiring civil engineers, organized by the Civil Engineering Society (CES) of the University of Moratuwa. This series offers a platform for undergraduates to gain a deeper understanding of current issues, emerging technologies, engineering trends, and research work in the field of civil engineering. The goal is to assist students in shaping their future career paths within the industry.

Senior Professor Malik Ranasinghe retired after 33 years of service at the University of Moratuwa on 26th October 2023. Department of Civil Engineering organised a farewell ceremony, in which Prof. Ranasinghe also conducted a farewell lecture on “Uncertainty and Risks”. Head, Department of Civil Engineering, Deputy Vice Chancellor, other academic and non-academic staff members and invited guests appreciated the tremendous contribution of Prof. Malik Ranasinghe to the university and the department.

The awarding ceremony of the Literature Month Celebration Competitions held in September 2023 took place on October 27th at the Civil Engineering Department's premises. The Civil Staff Welfare Society organized this event, and it received substantial support from many individuals, contributing to its successful conclusion. Participating in these competitions were the children of academic, academic support, and non-academic staff members of the University of Moratuwa, as well as their relatives. A special talent competition was organized for primary grade children, while essay and drawing competitions were held for students in the junior, secondary, and senior sections.

On November 4, 2023, a dynamic day-out program was conducted for the non-academic staff of the Department of Civil Engineering at the Polduwa Holiday Resort in Madapatha. This event featured the expertise of renowned outbound training officer, Mr. Prabath Daraniyagala. The primary objective of this training program was to enhance teamwork, improve better coordination, and reduce psychological stress among the non-academic staff. As a result, the initiative has led to improved productivity and a more welcoming atmosphere within the department's work environment.

The highly anticipated annual entertainment event, "Civil Padura 2023," was held at the Civil Engineering Department premises on the 21st of September, 2023. This event was coordinated by the Civil Engineering Society (CES) with the guidance of the Head of the Department, Prof. (Mrs.) Chintha Jayasinghe and also with the pivotal leadership from the Civil 2019 Batch. The event commenced at 6:30 pm with the ceremonial lighting of the oil lamp. The event was well-attended by the academic/non-academic staff and undergraduate and postgraduate students of the Civil Engineering Department. The venue was adorned with colorful decorations, creating an inviting and warm atmosphere.

Prof. L. I. N de Silva of the Department of Civil Engineering visited the Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology (SIIT), Thailand from 15th August to 4th September 2023 under the category of staff exchange of the MoU between SIIT and DCE, University of Moratuwa. This is the first item implemented under the above MoU, once the collaboration was activated in the beginning of the year 2023.