Bio-Data as submitted & certified by the candidate
Eng. Prof. Tirath Manojya Pallewatta is the former Head of the Department and Senior Professor in Civil Engineering of the Open University of Sri Lanka.
He attended his primary schooling at Hena Road Junior School, Mt. Lavinia and after completing his secondary education at the Royal College, Colombo 07, gained admission to the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Moratuwa in 1981 and graduated with First Class Honours in Civil Engineering at the top of his batch in 1986, securing Dr. A. N. S. Kulasinghe Award for the Best Civil Engineering graduate as well as Award for the Best In-Plant trainee.
After working at Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau and National Water Supply & Drainage Board, involved in design and construction, he received a scholarship in 1987 from the Dutch Government for getting engaged in postgraduate studies.
In 1989 he obtained Master of Engineering in Structural Engineering and Construction from the Asian Institute of Technology, at the top of his batch with the highest possible GPA, securing Prof. Mahesh Varma Award for the Best Graduate. His achievements were recognized by the Government of Japan by awarding him a scholarship for Doctoral study.
Upon receiving his Doctorate, with Excellent grading, in Structural Engineering in 1993 from the prestigious University of Tokyo, he returned to Sri Lanka to work in the field of Structural Design & Construction Engineering.
Very early in his professional career he was the Resident Engineer at a strategic site of the NWS&DB where he gained invaluable experience in heavy construction. This start propelled him to perform at significantly high Levels in engineering practice and research. After the doctorate he served in the field as a senior design and construction Engineer in high-rise buildings and obtained his Charter before joining the academia as a Senior Lecturer and advancing to Senior Professor in Civil Engineering while conducting administrative duties as the Head of the Department for over a decade. At the same time he was technically directing the infrastructure development of the Open University of Sri Lanka spread throughout the country, through optimized designs and construction practices with special attention to sustainability and conservation. Always keen in computer and IT developments he was active in propagating computer & communication infrastructure as well as Web sites for both University and IESL.
He became a Chartered Engineer in 1996, elevated to ‘Fellow’ in 2002, and was accepted as an International Professional Engineer in 2008. He has been the Editor of all three periodic publications of the IESL, serving the SLEN monthly news paper for five years, Annual Transactions for six years and ENGINEER, the quarterly journal for fourteen years. He first joined the IESL Council in 1998 and served, nearly in continuity, under various capacities for almost two decades before becoming 113th President of IESL in 2018.
Also, as an automobile engineer and an enthusiast he was elected a ‘Member’ in 1998, elevated to ‘Fellow’ in 2010 and served as a Vice President of the Institute of Automotive Engineers, Sri Lanka in 2011.
Election Statement as submitted & certified by the candidate
I joined the IESL soon after graduating from University of Moratuwa with a first class, at the top of my batch. After completing a Master’s degree, at top of the batch again, and a Doctorate in Engineering interleaved with professional career in the design/construction field, I obtained the Charter, become a Fellow and an International Professional Engineer, which exemplify my competence, affection and dedication towards the profession of Engineering.
First elected to the IESL Council in 1998, I served there, almost continuously in different capacities becoming the 113th President in 2018. Apart from being the Editor of all three periodic publications of the IESL, for over two decades, I edited three indexes culminating in an electronic repository on a century of IESL publications and beyond. Through these I was able to positively influence the dissemination of knowledge to our membership.
As President, I have set in motion processes to ensure quality, regulation, equity and esteem of our beloved profession of Engineering. By continuing in the next Council as a Past President, my objective is to assist in consolidating the achieved recognition and status of Engineering at National/International levels, while regulating the practice of Engineering based on qualifications, aptitude and competence.
