Dammika Vitanage and the Advanced Condition Assessment and Pipe Failure Prediction Project have won an award for engineering excellence from the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka, NSW Chapter (IESL NSW).
The award for Best Infrastructure Development Project was conferred on Dammika at the IESL’s Engineering Excellence Awards and Gala Dinner on 31st May 2014 in Sydney.
The Gala Dinner was attended by the President of the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka, Eng. Shavindranath Fernando, invited guests, sponsors, engineers and their spouses. The keynote speech was delivered by the National President of Engineers Australia, Professor Alex Baitch.
Photograph showing Dammika holding the award winning trophy.
From left to right: Waruna Kaluarachchi, Shavindranath Fernando (IESSL President), Dammika Vitanage, Professor Alex Baitch (National President Engineers Australia), IESL (NSW) Chair Mahinda Kuranaratne.
Photograph showing Dammika’s award winning trophy.
The IESL (NSW) received 15 submissions for its 2014 Engineering Excellence Awards in the three categories of:
- Best paper published
- Best innovation and/or invention
- Best infrastructure development project
and the Award selection committee reduced the 15 entries to six finalists.
As one of the finalists, Dammika delivered a 15 minute presentation on the Project to the IESL Annual Conference.
Dammika was eligible for nomination as a member of IESL (NSW) and he represented Sydney Water, where he is the Asset Infrastructure Research Coordinator, and the Advanced Condition Assessment and Pipe Failure Prediction Project as its Industry Partners’ Representative.
Dammika graduated with BSc(Hons) in Civil Engineering from the University of Perideniya. He is a Chartered Engineer, a member of the Institute of Civil Engineers London and a member of the American Civil Engineering Association. He has 34 years water industry experience including roles in asset and product management, strategic planning, maintenance, management of water and waste water systems, and significant experience managing water industry research programs. Other Project participants with Sri Lankan background include Professor Jayantha Kodikara and Suranj Rathnayaka of Monash University, Professor Gamini Dissayanake, Associate Professor Sarath Kodagoda, Nalika Ulapane and Buddhi Wijerathna, all from University of Technology Sydney, and Jeya Rajalingam of Sydney Water.
Congratulations to Dammika and the team!
More information about the award to Dammika and the Critical Pipes project, and other award nominees, can be found on the website of the IESL (NSW) at www.ieslnsw.org