My Contributions to Engineers and Society
Leadership and Committee Roles:
- Served as IESL Council Member (2022/23 & 2023/24)
- Chairman, IESL Vavuniya District Centre
- Treasurer, IESL Mannar District Centre
- Vice Chairman, IESL Vadakkin Chapter
- Member of various IESL committees:
- Professional Standards Management Committee
- Educational Sectional Committee
- Professional Affairs Committee
- Finance & Procurement Committee
- Civil Engineering Sectional Committee
- Library & Publication Committee
Professional Guidance and Mentorship:
- Conducted guidance sessions on the Professional Review Examination (B-Paper) for associate engineers in the Northern Province
- Guided many associate members to become corporate members of IESL
Educational and Technical Contributions:
- Resource person for several technical talks organized by district centers
- Delivered talks on “Code of Ethics” at the Annual General Meeting of the Northern Chapter
- Guest lectures on “Professional Ethics” for technology undergraduates and “Professional Communication” for engineering undergraduates at the University of Jaffna
Youth and Community Engagement:
- Delivered talks to school students during the “Talk to School” program organized by the Young Member Section of IESL
- Led the team in the “IESL Junior Inventor of the Year” provincial competition
- Chairman for CSR activities at the Vavuniya District Centre of IESL
Panel Participation and Leadership:
- Panel member in discussions on engineers’ contributions to resolving Sri Lanka’s economic crisis organized by the Vadakkin Chapter, IESL
- Served on various subcommittees appointed by the IESL Council
- Served in the Judge Panel of the Final Event of the Climathon Competition organized by the Environmental Society of the University of Vavuniya
Evaluation and Accreditation:
- Served as an IESL evaluation panel member, assessing training offices for corporate membership readiness
Through these contributions, I aim to continue promoting and safeguarding the Engineering Profession, supporting IESL and its members, and driving national development.
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Election Statement as submitted & certified by the candidate
I am honoured to present my candidacy for the upcoming IESL Council election. With a deep sense of responsibility and commitment, I seek your support to serve our prestigious Institution and the engineering community. If elected, I pledge to contribute humbly yet significantly to promote and safeguard the Engineering Profession through the IESL Council. My objectives are outlined as follows:
- Rebuilding the National Economy: My foremost goal is to ensure that the IESL plays a key role in rebuilding our national economy. I believe that with my experience and dedication, I can make a substantial contribution to the council’s efforts in this regard.
- Elevating the Engineering Profession: Drawing from my sixteen years of industry experience, along with my managerial and leadership skills, I aim to guide the IESL to new heights, safeguarding the interests of Sri Lankan Engineers and our esteemed Engineering Profession.
- Enhancing Engineering Education: I am committed to maintaining high standards in Engineering Education through a rigorous and consistent process of recognizing and accrediting Engineering Education programs in the country. Additionally, I aim to uplift the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) of our members.
- Improving PR and Corporate Membership: I will work towards improving the quality and standards of the Professional Review (PR) process. Moreover, I will promote eligible young members to become Corporate Members of the Institution by nurturing their technical competencies, professional skills, values, and ethics.
- Strengthening Regional Centers and Chapters: I will support the council in collaborating effectively with IESL District Centers and Provincial/Overseas Chapters, ensuring dynamic involvement under the IESL umbrella. This will strengthen regional centers and their activities while promoting the participation of young members.
- Maintaining Transparency: I am dedicated to building trust among our members by maintaining transparency in all activities carried out by the IESL. This will help in fostering a more open and trustworthy environment within the Institution.
- Establishing Engineers’ Importance: I will work to establish the importance of the Engineers’ role in the country by making Engineers’ presence mandatory in development projects. Additionally, I will advocate for an increased level of participation of IESL in policymaking and national-level activities.
I am motivated by the vision of greater involvement of Engineers in addressing national issues. In cases where policymakers require expert advice, the IESL should not hesitate to provide guidance as a professional body.
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Bio-Data as submitted & certified by the candidate
Eng. M.E. Sutharsan graduated with a BSc (Second Upper-Class Honours) degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Peradeniya in 2008. He earned his Master of Business Administration from Rajarata University of Sri Lanka in 2017.
In 2015, Eng. Sutharsan became a Chartered Engineer of the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka (IESL). He achieved the status of International Professional Engineer (Sri Lanka) in 2023 and was honored as a Fellow Member in 2024. Currently, he is serving as a Council member for the 2022/23 and 2023/24 sessions. Additionally, he contributes to the IESL as a member of the Professional Standards Management Committee, Educational Sectional Committee, F&P Committee, and Professional Affairs Committee.
Eng. Sutharsan has also held significant leadership roles within the IESL. He served as the Vice Chairman of the Vadakkin Provincial Chapter and the Chairman of the Vavuniya District Centre during the 2019/2020 term. He was the Treasurer of the Mannar District Centre in 2019/2020. His commitment to education and professional development is evident through his technical talks and lectures for associate members in the Northern Province, helping them prepare for the “B-Paper examinations.” He also delivers guest lectures to engineering undergraduates and oversaw the preparation and execution of the Junior Inventor of the Year 2021 competition in the Northern Province.
Beginning his career in 2008 as a site engineer at CEC (Pvt) Ltd., Eng. Sutharsan joined the NECORD Project, Ministry of Nation Buildingd in 2009. Since 2010, he has been with the National Water Supply & Drainage Board, where he has held various positions including site engineer, design engineer, construction engineer, senior design engineer, and visiting lecturer at the University of Jaffna. In 2019, he was promoted to Chief Engineer, a role he continues to excel in to date.
