President Sirisena appoints Channa Wijesekara as Member of Sri Lanka Engineering Council

Tuesday, 8 May 2018 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

President Maithripala Sirisena has appointed Channa Wijesekara as a Member of the Sri Lanka Engineering Council for a period of two years with effect from 10 April. Sri Lanka Engineering Council is primarily responsible for the maintenance of professional standard and conduct of engineering practitioners.

This is the second occasion in recent times that Wijesekara was appointed by the President as a Member of a Commission. In July 2017, he was appointed as a Member of Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC) for a period of four years.

The Ministries have recognised the knowledge, experience and capabilities and the contributions Wijesekara could make in these fields of engineering, skills development and vocational training for its upliftment, upgrading and progress. Wijesekara is no stranger in the fields of skills development and vocational training which goes back to 1970s when he held the position of training officer/lecturer at NAITA and a Member of Governing Council of Apprenticeship Training Institution (ATI).

Wijesekara is an Incorporated Civil Engineering Diplomate from the University of Moratuwa and is a Council Member and a Fellow of the Institution of Incorporated Engineers of Sri Lanka (IIESL). His contribution is not confined to above spheres only. He is considered an authority on Wood based industry with more than 35 years of experience in the field having attended courses such as two-year full time Technical Teachers Certificate in Wood Technology and Diploma in Educational Administration in Germany, and related training in the Philippines and Thailand. He is the President of Wood and Wood Based Industrialist’s Association of Sri Lanka, the Chairman, Advisory Council on Wood and Wood Based sector, Ministry of Industry and Commerce.

Wijesekara has also authored many books in Sinhala on wood technology which is of immense value to those involved in this sphere. His latest book in English ‘Basic Technology of Wood Science – Volume I’ a translation of his Sinhala book is a boon to Sinhala and Tamil users to become familiar with English knowledge in wood science and wood technology.

To add to these achievements, Wijesekara is a successful entrepreneur being the founder Chairman and Managing Director of Leema Creations Ltd. and Leema Interiors Ltd., considered as leading total interior design solution provider and furniture manufacturer. In recognition of his success in business he was awarded among many other awards with the prestigious large category National Gold Award at Entrepreneur of the Year 2015 and 2016 from the Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCISL). Further, he was awarded Large Category Provincial Gold Award at the Entrepreneur of the year 2015 and 2016 from FCCISL.

Under his guidance and leadership Leema Creations was the recipient of many prestigious awards including: Brand Excellence in Interior Decorators and Designers Award for the SAARC region at the South Asian Partnership Summit and Business Awards Ceremony held on 29 October 2017 at Le Meridian Hotel, Dhaka, Bangladesh; Large Category National Silver Award at ‘CNCI Achiever of Industrial Excellence Award 2017’ from Ceylon National Chamber of Industries (CNCI); Large Category National Bronze Award at ‘CNCI Achiever of Industrial Excellence Award-2016 and 2015’ from Ceylon National Chamber of Industries (CNCI).