ABOUT US

MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT...

As the pioneers in civil engineering education in Sri Lanka, the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Peradeniya has made significant contributions to the nation over the past seven decades and continues to produce engineers of high calibre, fortified with engineering knowledge as well as skills in design, problem solving, research, management and communication, amongst other, whilst performing high-quality research and providing services to the nation.

The efforts of our founding fathers and their foresight and wisdom together with the core values that they have instilled are the solid foundation upon which the department has grown and continues to stand stronger. The pioneering works of the men and women of this institution over the history of its existence, be it in teaching, in research and development, or through industry interaction, have shown the way forward for others to follow. The students of the department have graduated to become leaders of the industry and in academia as well as in administration, and above all, useful and productive citizens of the country.

With an annual intake of 150 undergraduate and a nearly equal number of postgraduate students, together with an extremely well-qualified academic staff of 40 and 45 members of non-academic staff, and covering all major sub-disciplines of civil engineering, the department is one of the largest of its kind in the country, the region and beyond.

The B.Sc. Engineering degree programme in Civil Engineering offered by the department is designed to provide the students with, first, a sound founding in basic sciences, mathematics and fundamentals of engineering, followed by a deeper knowledge in core areas of civil engineering as well as vital skills and aptitude in engineering design, research, project management and finances, amongst other. Several supplementary courses and activities included in the programme enable further fostering and enhancement of other important attributes to be a well-rounded graduate engineer.

The high-standards and rigour of the academic programme maintained by the department is also intended to raise the intellectual capacity of students to a higher plane as well as acquisition of necessary practical skills so as to be able to practice as a proficient civil engineer, working on complex tasks in a challenging environment, for the benefit of the society.

As the Head of the Department, I am pleased to say that we all, the staff, the students and other key stakeholders, continuously strive to be the best we can be in delivering the core parts of our mission.

Professor J. J. Wijetunge, BScEng, PhD (Cambridge)
Head, Department of Civil Engineering
University of Peradeniya