Dr. Shingo Asamoto keynote speaker at Society of Structural Engineers Sri Lanka Annual Sessions 2018

• Tokyo Cement facilitates world-class knowledge sharing

The Society of Structural Engineers, Sri Lanka (SSE-SL) held its Annual Sessions 2018 with the patronage of Tokyo Cement Group on 14 August at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel, Colombo. The event was the platform for key research findings and knowledge sharing and focused the limelight on the highly-coveted field of structural engineering in Sri Lanka at a time when the country is on wave of a ground-breaking infrastructural developments.

The Annual Sessions is held with the broader objective of creating a culture of scientific research to spur on innovation in structural engineering. Over 150 delegates of the construction community comprising of civil engineers, project managers, consultants and undergraduates from the engineering faculties of the leading universities in the country were present at the conference.

Tokyo Cement Group as the sole sponsor of this year’s event flew down renowned researcher on concrete, Dr. Shingo Asamoto, Associate Professor at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering of Saitama University of Japan, to address the conference as the keynote speaker. Dr. Asamoto, who is a very close affiliate among the Sri Lankan engineering academics, presented his scholarly findings conducted in association with Prof. Anura Nanayakkara of the University of Moratuwa, on “Hot Weather Concreting Issues and Application of Mineral Admixtures”. His study is part of a core-to-core research network project being conducted in collaboration between the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) and the Universities of Moratuwa and Ruhuna. This project focuses on hot weather concreting and the measures for design and construction according to Asian climatic conditions, with Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam as counterparts.

Tokyo Cement Group was delighted to take the lead role on this occasion which aims to uplift our industry to be on par with any other country in the global construction arena. The company with its longstanding ties with Japan, made it an opportunity to facilitate world-class knowledge sharing to inspire our professionals who add impetus to our industry with new thinking. Tokyo Cement Company Director Research and Development Dr. M.G.M.U. Ismail, the driving force behind Tokyo Cement’s innovations arm, was instrumental in broadening the SSE-SL affiliation into a strategic industry partnership.

11 breakthrough concept papers were presented by top professionals and academics of the Structural Engineering fraternity at this year’s annual sessions. The sessions were chaired by Eng. Dr. Nihal Somaratna, former Head of Department of Civil Engineering and Eng. Dr. Udaya Dissanayake, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Civil Engineering from the University of Peradeniya respectively. This rich set of research-based innovations pointed to the promise of making our construction industry the fountainhead of national development. The discussion points raised by these topics broaden the horizon of structural engineering in Sri Lanka and prepare the industry to face new challenges with innovative thinking, enhanced knowledge and expertise. Tokyo Supermix Ltd. General Manager Eng. Janaka Perera also made a presentation on the strengths and benefits of Tokyo Supermix, the largest supplier of ready-mixed concrete in Sri Lanka with a network of 11 batching plants spread across the island.

The SSE-SL is the foremost professional body dedicated to uplift and enhance knowledge of structural engineers and other professionals connected to the construction industry on new concepts, innovations and new technology. Members of the Society are actively involved as consultants and advisors to major development projects in the country and dynamically contribute on a number of policy formulating committees governing the industry. The Society plays a leading role in educational and training activities and provide a platform to share knowledge and experiences on various construction related topics between professionals in Sri Lanka and industry experts from around the world.