First General Meeting

The first meeting was held on 22nd January 2023 at the FECT office in Akurana. It was attended by engineers including Eng. J.M. Samoon, Eng. MZM Hilal, Eng. SM Fazal, Eng. Ramzi Zarook, Eng. Zaman Akbar, Eng. Zain Iwais, Aysha, and Ashra Ashraf. The FECT staff present included Nipuni Alahakoon, Azra Munas, Asvini Seneviratne, Yoosuf Razi, and Tuan Hadgie. 

The meeting featured a series of technical presentations, both preceding and following the main discussions.

• Nipuni Alahakoon – Weekly Weather Reports for Water Management in Sri Lanka and Prospects for Flood Risk Predictions
• Asvini Seneviratne – Updates on Recent FECT Work on Pinga Oya
• Yoosuf Razi – Air Quality Study and Reporting in Sri Lanka
• Ramzi Zarook – Analysis of Dodangolla Landslide

The meeting also included in-depth discussions on topics relevant to the Akurana region.

1.  Participants emphasized the need for an organization that would bring together engineers from around Akurana, exploring ways to structure it and its potential relationship with existing organizations like the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka (IESL). 

2.  Opportunities to promote the field of engineering and support the development of the next generation of engineers in the area.

3.  Concerns were raised about the frequent neglect of consulting engineers on critical technical matters, highlighting the importance of their involvement in decision-making processes.

4. Considered issuing a formal statement regarding the recent floods in the Pinga Oya region to address the technical aspects and impacts of the disaster.