I am honoured to be the chair of the IESL NSW Chapter and would like to thank the engineering community of NSW for entrusting me with this responsibility. I also extend my gratitude to the past chairs and committee members for their efforts in bringing the chapter to its current level.

As the committee, we are excited to announce that we are working on multiple plans to make the IESL NSW Chapter a better and more interactive place. Our aim is to involve younger engineers in chapter activities and provide guidance to recent migrants to help them settle in here. We are discussing various programmes to bring financial stability to the chapter, and we will provide updates on these initiatives in future events and newsletters.

Furthermore, we have already started discussions with IESL Colombo and other chapters globally to bring Sri Lankan engineers together and support Sri Lanka in the best possible ways. We appreciate the support of all past chairs, committee members, and our community in these endeavours.

I am pleased to introduce the new committee of the chapter, which includes more young engineers this year. Dr. Damith Mohotti is the current vice-chair, and he graduated from the University of Moratuwa and is working as an associate professor at the University of Wollongong and UNSW Canberra. He is a nationally recognised expert in the design of protective structures, numerical modelling, and finite element analysis.

Dr. Sujeewa de Silva is the secretary of the committee and a familiar name in the community and has been involved in IESL activities for a long time. She graduated from the University of Moratuwa and is currently working as a senior lecturer at the University of Technology Sydney.

Dr. Dakshitha Weerasinghe is the Treasurer for the cimmittee, a young engineer who graduated from the University of Moratuwa and obtained his PhD from the University of Sydney.

Dr. Kasun Wijesooriya is the Editor of the committee and is a Research Fellow at the School of Engineering and Technology at UNSW Canberra.

Eng Julian Mehanathan is a very senior engineer who graduated from the University of Peradeniya and has been involved in IESL chapter activities for a long time.

Eng Rasika Gunawardena is also a well-known member of the community who has been involved in IESL activities for a long time.

I would like to welcome these young engineers to the chapter and hope they will be with the IESL NSW Chapter for years to come and take it to the next level. Eng. Ravinda Kulasuriya, Dr. Sarith Fernando, Dr. Harith Wickramasinghe, Eng Kasun Peris, Eng Nimila Gunawardena, and Eng Chanuka Wijayasiri are also part of the committee.

Warm regards,

Eng. Dhammika Gunaratne
Chair, IESL NSW Chapter

First team meeting of the 2024 Committee

I am humbled by the opportunity to serve as Vice Chair of the IESL NSW Chapter for the term 2023-2024, the largest, most vibrant, and also the most active Chapter for IESL.   

This year, we are blessed with many dedicated volunteers who care deeply about our profession, its standing, and contributions in a fast-changing environment.  

As we all have recognised, it has been a challenging few years for the chapter and its community. We will do our best to make you proud of your association with the Society.  

As the Chair’s message highlighted, we are working on multiple short and long-term plans to make the IESL NSW Chapter a better and more interactive place.  

Some key activities that are already in progress are given below.  

  • We are regrouping the IESL NSW membership community via networking events at each major University in NSW/ACT.  
  • A plan has already been made to update all social media platforms and the chapter website. 
  • Establishing regular guest lecture series that can benefit all chapter members will start in February 2024. 
  • Organise to bring back the financial stability of the chapter via Career Development Courses (CDP) and strengthen the sponsorship base. To help with this purpose, the committee has defined a dedicated role as a “Public relationship and business officer.” 
  • Regularly update the community with the chapter’s activities in a short, coherent and more interactive format.  

We will be engaging you more directly in future activities. Your support and contributions are a vital part of the chapter’s success. 

“The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team” 

Associate Professor/ Chartered Professional Eng Damith Mohotti 

Vice Chair IESL NSW Chapter 

Dear IESL Members,

I trust this message finds you well. It’s an honor to serve as Treasurer for IESL, and I’m grateful for the trust placed in me by the engineering community. Special thanks to past chairs and committee members for their dedicated contributions.

Working with the committee, we’re committed to enhancing IESL’s impact. This includes engaging younger engineers, supporting recent migrants, and implementing strategic programs for financial stability. Your support is pivotal in achieving these goals. Your contributions, whether through expertise or financial support, empower us to strengthen IESL’s standing in the engineering community. Consider contributing at www.ieslnsw.org or reach out to me at treasurer@ieslnsw.org.

Thank you for your unwavering support as we elevate IESL together.

Warm Regards,

Dr. Dakshitha Weerasinghe
Treasurer, IESL NSW Chapter

Dear IESL Members,

As the Editor of the IESL NSW Chapter, I am happy to announce the launch of newsletters. This platform is dedicated to sharing the latest engineering news, insights, and accomplishments, and I invite each of you to contribute. 

We want this newsletter to reflect our diverse community, and that’s where you come in. Whether you have a project highlight, a technical insight, or a personal story, we’d love to feature your contributions. Currently, our plan is to publish a newsletter once every two months commencing from early 2024.

Look out for submission details early next year, and let’s work together to make the IESL NSW Chapter newsletter a dynamic and meaningful resource for our community.

Thank you for your support, and I’m excited to see the impact we can create together.

Kind Regards,
Dr. Kasun Wijesooriya 
Editor, IESL NSW Chapter