JICA proposes ways to Sri Lanka to become high income nation
Considering the stable economic growth in Sri Lanka there was a bit of an advice as to how the country could move from a middle income country to high income nation. The advice came from Kiyoshi Amada, Chief Representative, JICA (Japanese International Cooperation Agency) when he addressed as the Chief Guest at the Sri Lanka Engineering Excellence Awards – 2015 organised by the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka (IESL), at Waters Edge, Battaramulla. He said that the Excellence Awards of Sri Lankan Engineers demonstrate their innovative, creative and sustainable contributions to the physical and social environment of the country.
The winner demonstrated excellence in design, invention, innovation and construction, engineering entrepreneurship, journalism, education, social responsibility and heritage, he added. Assessing the competence and accrediting engineering qualifications of these engineers are well recognised by the International Professional Engineers Alliance known as ‘Engineers Mobility Forum’ and the Washington Accord, he opined.
Speaking on how to transform Sri Lanka to a high income country, Mr Amada said “The path towards this end will need both hardware and software”.
‘The hardware indicates advanced infrastructure such as transport systems including public transit systems, road networks, maritime access with ports and utilities including energy, ICT and water supply ,” he said. The software, he said includes fostering technological learning, research and development and encouraging knowledge networks. He said that in achieving this end, he strongly believed that the members of IESL can play a pivotal role in the above arenas and this kind of awards ceremonies are encouraging.
Wimalasena Gamage, President, IESL said that professional engineers always work as a team and they are contributing quietly for the sustainable development of the country and thus they solve problems. Prof K .K. Y. W. Perera, Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Guest of Honour said that recognition in engineering is not purely by the massiveness of the jobs completed but by its quality standard and cost. These celebrating engineers were thrilled when several IESL members belonging to various engineering disciplines displayed their prowess in music along with a popular dancing troupe and called themselves as ‘Musical Engineers’.