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State funeral for nation’s great builder
Dr A.N.S. Kulasinghe, one of the greatest engineers the country has ever produced, was accorded a state funeral yesterday at Independence Square amidst a large and distinguished gathering.

Mr. Kulasinghe passed away on Wednesday at the age of 87.
Addressing the funeral ceremony, Science and Technology Minister Tissa Vitharana said Dr. Kulasinghe showed an exemplary leadership to bring out the talents of the local engineers and laid a good foundation for the future of Sri Lanka’ engineering field.

UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya praised the commitment shown by Dr. Kulasinghe to achieve great engineering feats at national level with the Mahaweli scheme bearing testimony to his outstanding contribution.
Mr. Jayasuriya said the late engineer was a person loved by everybody and that he always allowed others to talk to him and learn from him. JVP parliamentarian Wimal Weerawanse said that country was now facing a big challenge to fill the void created by the death of Dr. Kulasinghe.
Mr. Kulasinghe started his technical education as an apprentice and rose to become one of the best engineers in the country.

He was also the founder Chairman of the State Engineering Corporation (SEC), the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau (CECB) and the National Engineering Research and Development (NERD) Centre. His pioneering efforts and contributions in the areas of pre-cast concrete, pre-stressed concrete, alternate low-cost construction material, ferro-cement boat building and the application of the shell design theory in the construction of the Kalutara Bodhi Chaitya and Kotmale Maha Seya (the tallest structure in Sri Lanka) stand as monuments in his memory.

Mr. Kulasinghe also served as the President of the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka (IESL), the local Country Representative of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) UK, and the founder Chairman of the Sri Lanka Association of the Institution of Civil Engineers (SLAICE).

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