Engineers advancing our competitiveness – Rishad

Monday, 23 July 2012 00:52 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Engineers are contributing to develop Sri Lanka’s competitiveness and creativity in many ways. “Engineers remain as one of the professions that do not contribute to Sri Lankan brain drain and migration. Thanks in part to the contribution by our engineers,

I am pleased to note that we advanced from rank 68 to 58 in 2012 Global Competitiveness Rankings above Brazil and Mexico while Sri Lanka is at 69 in Global Technology Rankings under the Global Creativity Index, one point below Viet Nam but above Indonesia and Paraguay,” said Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen.

Minister Bathiudeen was addressing the 34th Annual Sessions 2012 of Institution of Incorporated Engineers, Sri Lanka (IIESL) held on 21 July at the BMICH. During the session, more than 60 engineers were admitted as new members to the IIESL member’s roll which consists of honorary, full and associate grades – among them was Minister Bathiudeen, who was conferred the full membership of IIESL and was personally awarded to him by the Chief Guest of the occasion, Senior Minister of Food Security P. Dayaratne. Minister Bathiudeen [M.I.I.E (SL)-I.Eng], holds a National Diploma in Technology (NDT) in Civil Engineering from the University of Moratuwa, and is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Engineering (C.I.E.), UK.

“I was Associated with your institution last year around this time at the fifth convention of the SAARC Diploma Engineers Forum. This year will be a memorable year to me as I join the membership of your prestigious institution,” Minister Bathiudeen said. As internationally recognised category of Engineers in the field of engineering technology, incorporated engineers effectively manage the construction, operation, maintenance and project management functions by implementing appropriate technology. As I am given to understand there are more than 4,500 engineers with the Institution representing various branches of engineering in Sri Lanka. Engineers are in the parliament and also in the cabinet. I think you would agree that the contribution of engineers to the country could therefore be seen at the highest levels,” said Minister Bathiudeen, adding, “Engineers also support the country at another level. That is, engineers remain as one of the professions that do not contribute to Sri Lankan brain drain and migration. Engineers are contributing to develop our competitiveness and creativity in many ways. I am pleased to note that we advanced from rank 68 to 58 in 2012 global competitiveness rankings above Brazil and Mexico while Sri Lanka ranks at 69 in Global Technology Rankings under the Global Creativity Index, one point below Viet Nam but above Indonesia and Paraguay. I am also pleased to inform you that the Industry sector is playing an increasingly important role in our development thanks to the far reaching vision of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Industrial exports were 75 percent of our 2011 total exports and our Industrial sector within GDP is expected to grow by 8.2 per cent this year. As the leading facilitator of Sri Lanka’s industries, my ministry extends its support to develop our manufacturing base in so many ways and I am sure that as your engineering knowledge and experience too could be utilised in this regard.”