Engineers to be regulated under new council

Cabinet yesterday approved a proposal by the Megapolis Ministry to establish an engineers’ council to regulate the profession, which also includes the registration of professionals belonging to the industry.  

The proposal was presented by Power and Renewable Energy Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya and Megapolis and Western Province Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka. 

“Engineering professionals, who have qualified in Sri Lanka and overseas in various institutions, are experienced in various fields according to standard and the level of the courses they have followed, and are engaged in various engineering tasks. However, an acknowledged method is not followed, like in the medical and legal fields, for registering and issuing licenses to engineering practitioners,” the Cabinet paper said. 

Minister Ranawaka had also received approval to implement eight projects to reduce flooding in the Western Province. Five major river valleys are situated in the Western Province, resulting in regular floods.

The Weras Ganga Storm Water Drainage and Environment Improvement Project is estimated to be 30% complete. The proposal presented by Minister Ranawaka seeks to immediately implement eight projects in this regard, including the construction of two tunnels for the drainage of storm water to the sea and two pump houses to send storm water to the sea, was approved by Cabinet. 

Ranawaka also received Cabinet approval to commence the Kaduruwela Town Expansion Project. The ministry can now commence the first phase of this project including planning, the development of lands, the preparation of the drainage system and the filling of land by the Land Reclamation and Development Corporation. The costs of the project were not revealed in the Cabinet paper released to the media.