The Civil Engineering Society (CES) of the University of Peradeniya commemorated its 50^th anniversary with a grand ceremony on 17^th June 2023 held at the Prof. E.O.E. Pereira Theatre of the Faculty of Engineering with a full-day programme comprising invited speeches, recognition of student achievements, seismic resilient building design challenge and awards presentations.

Prof. M.D. Lamawansa, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Peradeniya graced the event with his presence and delivered a speech highlighting the opportunities and challenges for the engineering graduates and the industry. Dr U.I. Dissanayake, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Prof. J.J. Wijetunge, the Head of the Department of Civil Engineering also addressed the gathering and Prof. K.K. Wijesundara, President of the society delivered the welcome speech. Prof. S.B.S. Abayakoon and Eng. N. Abeysuriya delivered insightful keynote speeches in a session moderated by Prof. K.D.W. Nandalal.

Founded in 1973, Civil Engineering Society of the University of Peradeniya is one of the oldest and the largest societies in the university system in the country. The main objective of the Civil Engineering society is to bring the staff, the students and the industry to a common platform, and to achieve that goal, the society organizes various activities, for example, industry visits, talks series, seminars, design challenges, field visits, community service, social events, and many more. Further, having both the academic staff and the students as members is one of the unique features of this society.

Prof. Nimal Seneviratne Awards for the Best Civil Engineering Undergraduate Projects in 2022 were also presented on this occasion, with financial assistance for the projects provided by Tokyo Cement Company (Lanka) PLC.

Another highlight of the event was the participation of over 50 representatives of the Civil Engineering Societies of the University of Moratuwa, University of Ruhuna, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka, University of Sri Jayewardenepura and the Open University, who also took part in the inter-university earthquake resistant building model design and testing challenge.


Photo credit: Engineering Students’ Publication Society, University of Peradeniya