SRI LANKA
Established 1906
The Newspaper of The Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka Vol. 51, No 02, March / April 2015
Country needs to Develop
Spiritually as well to
achieve Real Progress
- President Maithripala Sirisena at the IESL National
Engineering Conference
N
ational Engineering
Conference 2015,
organized by the
IESL was held at Hotel
Galadari on 2nd April, 2015
with the countrys first citi-
zen, His Excellency Presi-
dent Maithripala Sirisena
gracing the event as the
Chief Guest. This is the sec-
ond such conference after
the resounding success of
the inaugural event held in
October, 2013 and had an
impressive lineup of some of
the top business executives
in the country among the
eminent panel of speakers
in addition to guest speaker,
Eng. Edwin Khew Teck Fook
President Elect of Institute
of Engineers, Singapore who
shared their experiences
with the audience.
Stressing that Sri Lanka
should utilize the skills of its
own engineers for the
countrys develoopment HE
President Maithripala
Sirisena in his speech also
spoke of the countrys glori-
ous engineering traditions of
the past as seen in the mag-
nificent irrigation schemes
of Anuradhapura,
Polonnaruwa and
Digamadulla demonstrating
the skills of the indigenous
engineers of those times.
Referring to the present era
President Maithripala
Sirisena pointed out the lack
of spiritual progress re-
quired for real achievement
and recognition despite the
physical development in the
country in terms of
megaprojects of roads,
ports and buildings. In the
same line of thinking Eng.
S.B.Wijekoon, President of
the IESL, earlier on in his
welcome speech had men-
tioned about the Engineer-
ing Council Council Act the
much needed legal frame-
work for the proper practice
of the engineering profession
in the country as awaiting
approval by the parliament
and the President
Maithripala made it a point
to respond to this saying
that he will look in to this and
expedite its passage
through parliament.
ENGINEERING NEWS
Registered at the GPO as a Newspaper No. QD/39/News/2015
His Excellency President Maithripala Sirisena the Chief
Guest being presented a memento by Eng.(Dr.) S.B.
Wijekoon, President of IESL
The theme for this years con-
ference being Engineering
The Change Agent. Eng.
S.B.Wijekoon stated that hu-
man history and development
is in fact a sequence of
Changes, changes in peoples
lifestyles based on access
to energy. He said that mod-
ern life style conveniences
owe much to engineering
inputs and that engineering
has been an important
change agent all along.
PRESIDENTS CORNER
Dear Members
W
elcome back to the cor
ner. Fast approaching the
half way mark of my presi-
dency I think it is time to take stock
of the situation and gear up efforts
to make sure the goals and objec-
tives I had set forth at the beginning
of the session could all be achieved.
To expedite decision making and improve quality and standard
of our activities of the IESL, I proposed three main activities to
implement in my tenure. Firstly I proposed to develop and imple-
ment a hybrid model for speedy administration and financial
matters with adequate transparency including improving effi-
ciency and effectiveness of the staff. Secondly I proposed a
high level ICT system to have an effective information man-
agement system and speedy flow of information to improve the
activities of the IESL. My Third objective was to strengthen
and increase the membership of the IESL by providing more
facilities and benefits to members, especially those living in
the provinces and overseas.
I am happy to note that significant achievements have been
made in all these thrust areas. The introduction of an elec-
tronic document management system for the first time to the
Call For Papers for the 109th Annual Sessions saw our mem-
bers, in numbers as large as in previous years electronically
submit abstracts and the abstracts being reviewed and accep-
tance / rejection being sent to authors swiftly and efficiently
though the system. My special appreciation goes to the Eng.
(Dr.) KED Sumanasiri, Editor Transactions for his initiative and
hard work in making this entire thing possible. Similarly the
electronic version of the ENGINEER, quarterly journal of the
IESL now gets dispatched directly to the inbox of members.
My appreciations go to Professor TM Pallewatte, Editor Jour-
nal, for making this possible. I believe that submission of tech-
nical papers to the journal too would very soon be electroni-
cally possible and that it would acquire more visibility through
being internationally indexed and published in international rec-
ognized publishing platforms.
The streamlining of administrative and financial matters arebeing
carried out to make them speedy and efficient and they are a
continuing processes. Their success requires the co-opera-
tion of our members and I appeal to the members to give ut-
most support by following laid out procedures so as to achieve
best results without inconveniencing the staff.
I am pleased to note that there has been significant increases
in applications for the Charter and the numbers in our Corpo-
rate and Associate memberships. The B Paper examination
of the Profession Review was again successfully conducted in
all the provinces and continues to be appreciated by the many
Associate Members in the provinces with more and more can-
didates sitting for the exam in the provinces.The National En-
gineering Conference 2015 held on 2nd April, 2015 under the
theme Engineering: The Change Agent was another huge
success following the successful
inaugural event held in October, The Institution of Engineers
Sri Lanka
2013. Gracing the event as the
120/15, Wijerama Mawatha
Chief Guest, H E The President, Colombo 7, Sri Lanka
Maithripala Sirisena spoke of the
proud engineering heritage of the Tel: 2685490,2698426, 2699210
Fax: 2699202
country and expressed his desire E.mail:ed@sltnet.lk/
to utilize skills of local engineers iesl@slt.lk
in development projects and also Website:http://www.iesl..lk
undertook to expedite the process in this issue
of getting the National Engineer-
ing Council Bill passed by the par- IESL, JIY Competition
liament to strengthen the local en- Promotes Global Competition
through Intel ISEF.....................2
gineers and preserve the local en-
Editorial....................................4
gineering heritage.
ALCO, the Unsung Hero of Sri
Lankan Rail.............................4
 Sri Lanka Engineering News - March/April 2015
2 IESL NEWS

THE INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS,

TENTATIVE SRI LANKA
ANNUAL EVENTS Competition
on
CALENDAR Infrastructure Development in Water Sector
2014 / 2015 for Sustainable Development Experience
gained from Implementation of Integrated Water
Event Dates Resources Management and Development in Sri
New Year Family
Lanka
Saturday-May 16, 2015
Get Together
IESL Event Launch Friday-May 29, 2015 Session 2014/2015
Sponsored by
Engineers Night Saturday-July 04, 2015
St. Anthonys Industries Group (Private) Ltd.
Induction and Graduation Friday-August 28, 2015
Ceremony (MANUFACTURES OF ANTON PVC PIPES AND FITTINGS)
Two competitions will be held this year for the award of certificates and cash prizes. The
Engineering Excellence Friday-September 04, 2015 competition soliciting original Technical Papers on research and case studies are accepted
Awards from members of IESL who are above 35 years.
There will also be another competition for members who are 35 years and below on 01
Techno Exhibition Friday - Sunday, 09, 10, 11
October 2015. This competition is open to members of IESL and final year students of
October 2015
Faculties of Engineering of Universities in Sri Lanka who are student members of IESL or
Inauguration of the Friday-October 16, 2015 who obtain such membership before submitting their technical papers.
Annual Sessions
AWARDS & PRIZES
Annual Sessions Seminar Saturday- October 17, ABOVE 35 YEARS ON 2015.10.01 35 YEARS AND BELOW ON 2015.10.01
2015
First Prize - Rs. 50,000/= First Prize - Rs. 25,000/=
Annual Sessions Site Visit Sunday- October 18, Second Prize - Rs. 25,000/= Second Prize- Rs. 15,000/=
2015
Third Prize - Rs. 10,000/= Third Prize- Rs. 5,000/=
Annual General Meeting Saturday- October 24,
2015 The members (Fellows, Members, Associate Members, Associates, Companions and Students)
who wish to participate must obtain the application forms from IESL and submit bio data &
Techno Awards Friday- November 06, 2015 full Technical Papers to reach the Executive Secretary, The Institution of Engineers Sri
Ceremony Lanka, No. 120/15, Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 07 on or before May 30, 2015.
3une, 2012
Further information could be obtained from the Chairman, Steering Committee on Water
Resources Development of The Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka, on
Tel: 077 35 40 350 or Manager -Publicity-IESL 011-2685490, 011-2698426 or 011-2699210,
ext-232, 207, E-mail: dir.pub@iesl.lk, ieslpub@gmail.com, Fax : 011-2699202.
Note: Forms, Rules & Details and Full paper format could also be downloaded from the
IESL Website, www.iesl.lk or obtained from the IESL Secretariat.
Sri Lanka Engineering News - March/April 2015
IESL NEWS 3

IESL, JIY Competition Promotes Global Competition

through Intel ISEF
by Eng. Jayavilal Meegoda
Vice President, The Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka
Deputy General Manager, Ceylon Electricity Board

T
he Sri Lanka Science and Engineering Fair (SLSEF) 2015, for selecting the cream of creative and innovative among Sri Lankan school children for
participation in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) 2015 to be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA was conducted at
the Wimalasurendra Auditorium of the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka on 26th February 2015. The Intel ISEF is where the best of worlds best
young scientists and inventors from over 60 countries come together each year to share their ideas, showcase their cutting edge science and engineering
projects and win awards and scholarships.

The SLSEF is a joint effort where the Ministry of Edu-

cation, National Science Foundation (NSF), Intel EM
Limited-Sri Lanka Liaison Office and the IESL had
joined hands since year 2007 to promote creativity and
innovation among the countrys younger generation.
Every year 20 competitors are selected from two sepa-
rate competitions, the Junior Inventor of the Year (JIY)
competition conducted by the IESL and the Science
Research Project Competition (SRPC) conducted by the
NSF, to compete at the SLSEF to select three of the
best among them to participate at an international level
in the Intel ISEF held in USA.

Since beginning to participate in the Intel ISEF, stu-

dent of Sri Lanka, who has been selected through Jun- Master Mahendiran Sivatharshan Miss Subodha Sewwandi
ior Inventor of the Year (JIY) competition organized by Master Mahendiran Sivatharshan & Miss Subodha Sewwandi were selected to represent
Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka, has done the coun- Sri Lanka at the Intel ISEF in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,USA in May 2015.
try proud by managing to win awards and recognition
winning the 3rd place grand award in 2009 on their THE INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS, SRI LANKA
2nd appearance and clinching the 1st place grand Competition
award in Computer Engineering at their 3rd appearance on
(2010). The latter achievement earned the distinction of
a newly discovered planet being named after the winner
Role of Engineer meeting Future
who was also the Junior Inventor of the Year 2010 nomi- Challenges of Water Resources Development and
nated to the Intel ISEF competition by the IESL. JIY
finalists were able to win the IEEE Award and Intel Ex-
Management for Sustainable Development in Sri
cellence award in computer science in Intel ISEF at 5 th Lanka
appearance (2012) and also won the 1st place grand
award in category of Electrical & Mechanical Engineer- Session 2014 / 2015
ing and Special award from the Ashtavadhani Vidwan Sponsored by
Ambati Subbaraya Chetty Foundation at 6th appear-
ance (2013). At 7th appearance (2014), JIY winners won
International Water Management Institute (IWMI)
We are pleased to announce that arrangements are being made for the forthcoming Competition
the 2nd place grand award in category of Electrical & on Water Resources Development sponsored by IWMI towards the Annual Sessions of IESL in
Mechanical Engineering , 4th place grand award in October 2015. The prizes will be given for the two best Technical Papers under the above mentioned
category of Computer Science and two Special awards theme prepared for this competition by Associate Members & Corporate Members of IESL. Jointly
from the American Intellectual Property Law Associa- authored papers will be accepted, provided at least one of the authors satisfies the above criteria.
Papers must be original and demonstrate the authors knowledge and experience of the subject.
tion & U.S. Agency for International Development. The award winning articles will be published in the journal, Engineer of the IESL.
The fame and recognition achieved so soon has led to
Water is a vital input in industrial, energy, tourism, recreational, navigation, agriculture, forestry,
a rapid rise in the popularity of the competition among livestock and fishery sectors. As water scarcity grows, competition among sectors and users,
school children all over the country. and between the human needs and the environment intensifies. Effective and efficient water
management is therefore a prerequisite for sustainable socio-economic development.
The paper can address extraction, storage, distribution, use and disposal issues in any eco-
Welcoming the participants to this years SLSEF the
nomic sector. It should illustrate how engineering and technology is applied in increasing produc-
Vice President of the IESL, Eng. Jayavilal Meegoda tivity, in balancing supply and demand of water and/or in reducing water pollution and protecting
pointed out the significant contributions JIY programme freshwater ecosystems.
is making to the students and the country providing Preference will be given to papers of an empirical and analytical nature based on primary and/
motivation to be creative and innovative. Also Eng. or secondary data although papers addressing topical issues through conceptual develop-
ment may also be forwarded.
Jayavilal Meegoda said that the SLSEF is being held for
the seventh time and that the country has to be proud AWARDS & PRIZES
of the way its school children have performed in the face
ABOVE 35 YEARS ON 2015.10.01 35 YEARS AND BELOW ON 2015.10.01
of international competition. He pointed out the exhaus-
First place - Rs. 45,000.00 First place - Rs. 30,000.00
tive preliminary selection process undertaken by the Second place -Certificate only Second place - Certificate only
IESL in selecting 50 finalists from the nearly 1000 school
children projects demonstrated to panel of judges at Intention to participate in this competition should be intimated to us along with your Appli-
Colombo and all the provinces. He said that 20 of the cation Form & the full Technical Papers on or before May 30, 2015. IESL form IWMI/1
should be used for this purpose.
finalists were given the opportunity to exhibit their in-
Further information could be obtained from the Chairman, Steering Committee on
ventions to the industry and the public at the National
Water Resources Development of Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka, on Tel: 077 35 40
Engineering Exhibition (TECHNO) in October 2014 350 or Manager Publicity-IESL 011-2685490, 011-2698426 or 011-2699210, ext - 232, 207,
at the BMICH. The top 10 of these finalists have been E-mail: dir.pub@iesl.lk,and ieslpub@gmail.com, Fax : 011-2699202.
nominated to the SLSEF 2015 he concluded. Note: Forms, Rules & Details and Full paper format could also be downloaded from
the IESL Website, www.iesl.lk or obtained from the IESL Secretariat.
-

4 IESL NEWS
Sri Lanka
Engineering News
Uma Oya Project - The
Silence of
Engineers is deafening
R
ecently, one of my old
students, who is from
Bandarawela con-
tacted me to express her opin-
ion on Uma oya project. She
has been so nervous (as an
engineer) due to the pressure
from her community to do
something to solve this prob-
lem.
Public perception about this project is so negative and as
she is also from the same vulnerable area, now suffering
due to lack of water, is not an exception. She wants IESL
to do something and I persuaded her to talk with the re-
gional chapter.
This is not the only case we have heard regarding the con-
sequences of development projects. There have been sev-
eral such cases and except the top most management,
engineers have been so silent. Good or bad, engineers
should debate and argue. Then only the public can receive
the real picture of the situation. As we all see, non-engi-
neers are making various claims, giving reasons, but sur-
prisingly, engineers have been so silent.
Why so silent?
Why dont engineers enjoy the power of freedom (to pro-
test) which is enjoyed by the general public?
I have been struggling to find answers for the above ques-
tions.
Are you writing to
the editor?
As you know, I have been requesting you to write to me (to
the editor) as you are the best person to give us your
feedback. Sometimes I have got lot of comments from
seniors, but they are mostly the people I know. But how
about others who have come to know me only through the
SLEN? Are they accepting in Toto the contents in the
SLEN? When ever, we do not get any feedback, we tend to
assume that the content in the SLEN is accepted. Last
year we did a small search on the number of readers of
SLEN and found it to be around one thousand. We know at
least that they had browsed the site, but no information
whether they actually went through the content. Anyway
this is very discouraging when our membership is beyond
12000 and less than 10% are browsing the SLEN. We need
your feedback, and then only we know we are in the right
track.
Further, in addition to your feedback, we need your write-
up to be included in the SLEN. We all are authors; write to
us, your article will be published. Dont forget this READING
MAKETH A FULL MAN; CONFERENCE A READY MAN;
AND WRITING AN EXACT MAN-SIR FRANCIS BACON.
Reading makes you full (of knowledge). Conference (or
talking to others) makes you ready to deal with situations
because you learn from others. Writing makes you exact
because when your write incorrectly you hear about it from
critics and that forces you to know your facts to correct
the mistakes.
Please send us your comments and constructive criticism.
We are ready to change to improve the quality of the SLEN.
I wish all our readers a Happy and Prosperous Sinhala and
Hindu New Year!
Udeni Nawagamuwa
nawagamuwa@gmail.com
Sri Lanka Engineering News - March/April 2015
Challenges and opportunities in
Electronic Warfare operations
of developing Navies - A
Sri Lankan Perspective
by Capt (L) Prashantha Anthony
psc, MSc(DS)Mgt, C.Eng(SL),MIE(SL),C.Eng(India),
MIE(India), MIEEE
Introduction
E
lectronic warfare is defined as the Military action involving the use of electromagnetic
energy to determine, exploit, reduce, or prevent radars use of electromagnetic spec
trum1. Electronic Warfare is organized in to two main categories, EW Support
Measures(ESM) and Electronic Counter measures(ECM). When EW community tries and
degrades the radar capability, the radar community on the other hand uses techniques for
successful application of radars by utilizing Electronic Counter-Counter measures.
It is interesting to analyze how the Electronic warfare has affected the developing Navies in
general and Sri Lanka Navy in particular. My intention is to highlight the challenges to de-
ployment of Advanced EW capabilities and to suggest ways and means to counter those
barriers by few counter-counter measures that can be adopted to ensure the system manu-
facturer and the user understand the gaps and successfully bridge them for a mutually
beneficial EW effort.
EW Systems used in Sri Lanka Navy
Sri Lanka Navy since its formal inception in
1950 has developed steadily in Naval force
projection capability. The role of the Navy was
more concentrated on the mounting pres-
sures of terrorism in the country since late
1970s and the acquisition of Naval assets
was based on countering terrorism rather than
force projection as an Island Nation.
At present in Sri Lanka Navy most of the large
ships such as Offshore Patrol vessels, Fast
Missile Vessels and Fast Gun Boats are fit-
ted with mid size ESM systems. ECM capa-
bility is available in limited number of large
ships and Remote Controlled Improvised
Explosive Device jammers were effectively
used in countering terrorist activities against
land based naval convoys. Sri Lanka Navy
has a very large component of Naval Patrol-
men who were enlisted and trained to occupy coastal defense bases and Northern islands.
Thus the Land based ECM systems were a much needed tool during the times of conflict.
ECCM capabilities were largely nonexistent due to fact that there was minimal or no threat
of ECM from the terrorist outfit and Navys priorities were focused mainly on developing the
fighting capability at sea and land.
Who is the real enemy?
In the absence of a major conflict with any other country, Sri Lanka Navy has been strength-
ening its counter terrorism capabilities over the past 30 years.The government has now
placed much emphasis in developing overall Naval force projection capabilities with the ac-
quisition of new platforms and systems.
The threats posed by Non State actors such as human and arms smuggling, piracy, terror-
ism, drug trafficking and poaching in the vast maritime domain encompassing the Exclusive
Economic Zone of 530,000 square kilometers is cause for much concern as well as the
added responsibilities in the assigned Search and Rescue Region, which amounts to 27
times land mass including the main Sea Lines of Communication.
Being a standard Navy, it is en-
visaged that new platforms with
ESM and ECM capabilities and
new systems with ECCM capa-
bilities will be acquired in near
future to engage in legitimate
Naval Electronic warfare.
Contd. on page 10...
Sri Lanka Engineering News - March/April 2015
IESL NEWS 5

Electrified Transportation, Now or Never

Say the experts at
EESoc Panel Discussion
by Ms. Guvanthi Abeysinghe
Student Member IESL
Undergraduate, Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Moratuwa.
erating loss of Sri Lanka Rail-
way and, electrification of
transport operations might be
a society friendly solution in
this regard, to improve the
productivity and competitive-
ness in the transportation
sector.
Expressing the views on fu-
ture trends of transportation,
Prof. Amal S. Kumarage, Se-
nior lecturer of the Dept of
Transport & Logistics Man-
agement, University of
Moratuwa and Former Chair-
man of the National Transport
Commission mentioned that
The demand for mobility is
increasing all the time, it has
can gradually transform our
vehicle fleet into electricity
what would happen is, the
petroleum demand in the
transport sector will transfer
to the load. Further, he ex-
plained that this can be en-
couraged by introducing a
Time of Day tariff for elec-
tricity with a low off peak rate
to charge electric vehicles
and renewable energy
sources like wind are eligible
to absorb this load. Eng.
Lakshitha also spilled the
beans on CEBs consider-
ations to set up rapid charg-
ing stations in the country.
Following the same concept

A
increased with population of electric vehicles, Dr.
pproaching fossil fuel
over the years but it has been Narendra De Silva, the Head
crisis, growing demand
noticed that even when the of Engineering, LECO said,
for transportation, re-
population stops growing the There will be a smart meter
quirement of improved modes
demand for mobility in- where the vehicle will de-
of transportation, all have been
creases. In fact, its found mand the number of hours
insisting Electrified Transpor-
now that its almost directly of charging and we will dy-
tation in Sri Lanka from a long
proportional to income refer- namically allocate the capac-
time. This requires collabora-
ring to the statistical details. ity to the vehicles. Consid-
tive efforts of both power and
ering the efficiency issue,
transportation sectors. So far,
Looking into the future in when you look at the overall
experts have carried out their
case of Western province, he efficiency of the entire
own research and policy mak-
said that in order to maintain lifecycle efficiency of this
ers have taken their own deci-
the present road speeds by business, probably at the
sions either with or without the
2030, the road capacity highest efficiency well be
recommendations of the ex-
converting the primary en-
perts, but none were imple-
profile and the demand pro- ergy to electricity at about
mented yet.
jections. To my surprise, 35-38%, then at the electric
there was an electricity de- vehicle well be converting
This issue was the topic for the
mand component for railway that efficiency at about 70-
annual panel discussion orga-
electrification and 32 years 80%, this should be con-
nized by the Electrical Engi-
later, we are still talking trasted to the vehicle effi-
neering Society (EESoc) of
about railway electrification. ciency of somewhere lying
the University of Moratuwa,
Railway electrification was about 15%. If you work out
which was recently held at
first proposed by none these numbers you will see
Waters Edge, Colombo. A
other than one of our great that transmission losses
panel of professional experts
visionary engineers, D.J should be less than 10% to
presented their views and rec-
Wimalasurendra some- make this efficiency pump
ommendations on the subject
where in the early 1920s he economy... so every station
and also followed an open dis-
said. or the other we may need to
cussion with the audience of
provide a connection to
the corporate sector and Uni-
Further, Eng. maintain the reliability of the
versity academics.
Shavindranath, noting that former General Manager of should be increased by 100% network. Further Dr.
even though the hybrid cars SLR was the first panellist to and highways will still be a Narendra also commented on
Minister of Power & Energy,
have been flourishing, elec- address the gathering. requirement. Prof. Kumarage the need to increase the ca-
Hon. Patali Champika
tric cars have been im- further stated that encourag- pacity of the transformers to
Ranawaka taking part as the
ported only by a few, Being a leading Economist, ing public transport, influenc- meet the increased demand
chief guest of the event em-
pointed out that with the Dr. Gunaruwan speaking on ing to shift from road to rail of the consumers.
phasized the importance of
changing the present non-sus- tax reductions for importa- the ups and downs of Sri and from private modes to
tion of electric vehicles, it Lankan economy came to public modes of transporta- Presenting the results of a
tainable economy based on
is imperative that we all in the point that enhancing the tion, providing a variety of case study on railway elec-
the service sector to a sustain-
the transport and energy productivity is the way to re- transportation modes, saving trification, Dr. Tilak
able knowledge based
sectors get together and lieve the country from the energy and achieving cost ef- Siyambalapitiya, a premier
economy demanding technol-
address the myriad of is- middle income trap and en- fectiveness will resolve these Energy Consultant in the
ogy and innovation.
sues that necessarily will ergy should gain due focus issues. country and a Former Presi-
The Former General Manager
have to be addressed ur- as it is directly proportional dent of Sri Lanka Energy
of the CEB and the
gently. to productivity. Dr. Eng. Lakshitha Managers Association
immmediate Past President of
Gunaruwan said that if 1% of Weerasinghe, Cheif Engineer showed that its implementa-
the Institution of Engineers, Sri
The panel discussion with the petroleum imports can be (Business & Operational tion can be started by elec-
Lanka, Eng. Shavindranath
the professional experts saved through productivity Strategy) of CEB said that trifying Panadura to
Fernando, delivering the key
gave the opportunity for and efficiency, it will save ap- 41% of the national income Veyangoda railway line. Dr.
note speech gave an insight
each panellist to present proximately 40 million USD is spent on importing petro- Siyambalapitiya explained
in to the role that the relevant
their views in their fields of per year, which is nearly one leum, 66% of this is for the that a 25kV overhead line
authorities have so far played
knowledge on the subject. and half times the annual loss transport sector and 98.5% can be used to supply power
for electrification of transport.
Dr. Lalithasiri Gunaruwan, to Sri Lanka Transport Board transport sector petroleum to the train and one of the
In 1983, I was doing some
Secretary to the Ministry of and more than the annual op- usage of the country is to rails can be used as the re-
work in the energy sector and
I had to analyse the CEB load Internal transport and power road transport. If we Contd. on page 11....

6 IESL NEWS
Electrified Transportation - The Step towards Future
Key Note Speech: by Eng. Shavindranath Fernando
"'Hon. Minister of Power and
Energy Eng. Patali Champika
Ranawaka MP, our Chief
Guest this evening, Hon. Min-
ister of Internal Transport
Ranjith Madduma Bandara
MP, our Guest of Honour, Prof.
Ananda Jayawardane Vice
Chancellor University of
Moratuwa, distinguished
invitees, Panel members,
members of EESOC, Ladies
and gentlemen, I am very
pleased to stand before you
and deliver this key note
speech, knowing very well that
I am not the best person to do
so in the midst of a very distin-
guished and a highly knowl-
edgeable audience and a
panel.
In 1979 when I joined CEB I
was attached to Kelanitissa
Power station and the Pettah
power station was looked af-
ter by our staff. There were
several outgoing feeders from
this power station allocated for
the tram lines and trolley bus
service as the Pettah Power
station was primarily put up in
1902 for the Colombo Electric
Tramways and Lighting Com-
pany. So here we are re open-
ing the topic of electrification
of our transport system once
again more than half a century
after the electrified transport
system that we had in Co-
lombo operated by the Co-
lombo Municipality was
scraped. It defies me to find the
reasons for these decisions as
I was told by none other than
Mr. H S Subasinghe former
General Manager of CEB and
the first Chairman of LECO,
that they had to canvass the
tea factories during the same
period to electrify their own fac-
tories scrapping the large num-
ber of mini hydro power sta-
tions that were powering them.
So it is not uncommon for Sri
Lankans to do one thing in one
hand and undo it at the same
time from the other.
In 1983, I was involved in do-
ing some work in the energy
sector and I had to analyse the
CEB load profile and the de-
mand projections. To my sur-
prise there was an electricity
demand component for railway
electrification, 32 years later
we are still talking about rail-
way electrification. Railway
electrification was first pro-
posed by none other than one
of our great visionary engineer
D J Wimalasurendra some-
where in the early 1920s.
When I was small we had
green coloured electric trolley
buses silently moving in Pettah
and Fort with their character-
istic horn. My grand mother
used to talk about the tram
cars. The rail lines laid in
the middle of the roads in
Colombo were still visible
until recently. These tram
cars were taken off the
roads I believe in 1959 or so
and the trolley buses too
were taken off in 1964. I be-
lieve the decision to scrap
them were made due to mis-
management, unionism and
politics at that time and may
not necessarily be for eco-
nomic reasons.
In 1992, we in Sri Lanka En-
ergy Managers Association
organized a roundtable on
transportation, I organized
this event with the experts
at that time, late John
Diandas, Dr. Jayawardane
(?), Prof KKYW Perera and
few others including DIG
(Traffic) Mr.
Perimpanayagam as main
contributors. It was a very
successful one at that time
and some SLEMA members
made even slide presenta-
tions that led to immediate
leveling of some road
humps that were put up
near the pedestrian cross-
ings of the universities,
when everyone realized uni-
versity students were not
Montessori students!! Then
few bus bays were also
constructed on Galle road,
though at that time late Mr.
John Diandas was against
this concept where he ar-
gued the busses should
stop on the main road while
private vehicles should veer
away from the main line traf-
fic giving priority to buses. I
dont think this will ever hap-
pen though it has a very ra-
tional base, perhaps until all
of us travel in buses. Once
again last year too SLEMA
had its annual sessions
dedicated for sustainable
transportation.
Then in 2008 the Institution
of Engineers Sri Lanka
sponsored a study of rail-
way electrification and we
even got the assistance
from the Institution of Engi-
neers India to send an ex-
pert in railway electrification
and I am sure Tilak who was
involved in the study will
dwell on. The study had very
clear conclusions and a
cabinet paper was drafted
by the Ministry of Power and
Energy and our minister at
that time none other than our
chief Guest signed it and
sent it to the Ministry of
Transport which I believe is
still there to be signed by
the Minister! This cabinet pa-
per never saw the light of the
day.
These are some of the at-
tempts made by the profes-
sionals of this country to ad-
dress the efficiency improve-
ments in the transport sec-
tor. I must admit unlike in
other sectors nothing much
has happened in the electri-
fication of the transport sec-
tor though it seems to be the
obvious solution to many
problems in this sector. I am
sure those who are involved
in this sector know only too
well why nothing rational can
be done. I do not want to go
into details as they are
bound to come up in the later
discussion session.
So it is very opportune to talk
about this topic today and I
congratulate EESoc for tak-
ing the initiative.
Coming to the topic of the
day, it is timely and oppor-
tune to take up this matter
Sri Lanka Engineering News - March/April 2015
as a priority due to more than
one reason.
a) For quite some time
now hybrid cars are sought af-
ter by many car users and there
is very little effort to track down
the energy efficiency of these
cars and come out with a policy
to encourage them and to see
the possibility of off line supple-
mentary charging if it can be
done or if it need to be encour-
aged.
b) For at least 10 years
electric cars have been imported
by enthusiasts and not really
as a need, to be introduced es-
pecially for urbane commuting,
for which in my own mind has
a tremendous advantage of not
only the efficiency gains in run-
ning on congested urban roads
but also as a measure to re-
duce urban pollution from fos-
sil fuel powered vehicles. With
the current tax reductions for
importation of such vehicles, it
is imperative that we all in the
transport and energy sector get
together and address the
myriad of issues that necessar-
ily will have to be addressed as
a matter of urgency.
c) We also have to at the
same time see the validity of
imposition of increase of cus-
tom duty on hybrid vehicles in
the light of the argument that it
favours the electric cars, of
which I am not quite convinced
if it had been done with this ob-
ject in mind or the real reason
is something else. So I
leave it to the experts to ar-
gue this out.
d) The CEB has an in-
stalled capacity of around
4000MW with 900 MW of
base load capacity in coal
power plants and a maxi-
mum demand of nearly 2000
MW. This excess capacity
can be used to meet the re-
quirement of the transpor-
tation sector. The load fac-
tor of the system which
stands at around 68% can
be improved tremendously
by prudent demand side
management techniques
which include electrification
of transport sector as well.
e) The discovery of
natural gas in the Manar ba-
sin is something that need
to be taken into cognizance
as we have more than 600
MW combined cycle plants
that can easily be powered
by natural gas and their ca-
pacity too can be utilized
to meet the new demand in
the transport sector or natu-
ral gas can be used directly
as a fuel in transport hence
detail studies are required
to ascertain the best use of
the natural gas in the trans-
port sector, from a techno-
economic point of view.
In-depth and well coordi-
nated studies are needed if
we are not to make any
more mistakes and nullify
what one arm of the gov-
ernment does with the
other. I would like to place
on record that, at a semi-
nar conducted by the UGC
few weeks ago on the find-
ings of Natural Gas , policy
on petroleum and electric-
ity sector was discussed.
Politics aside, I categori-
cally mentioned that the big-
gest mistake we have done
in the energy sector in Sri
Lanka was the separation
of the ministries of Petro-
leum, Power and the renew-
Contd. on page 10...
Sri Lanka Engineering News - March/April 2015
ALCO, the Unsung Hero of Sri Lankan Rail
I
t too is Canadian, but not
The Canadian, which ter
minology can only be used
in referring to one class of lo-
comotive in Sri Lankan railway
parlances, the legendary M2.
It is not the M2 that is being
discussed here, but The Other
Canadian, the Montreal Loco-
motive Works (MLW) built
Class M4,now entering its for-
tieth year of service on the rail-
ways of Sri Lanka.
Large and ponderous, they
may lack the athletic good
looks and flamboyance of the
M2 to thrill the hearts of rail
fans. Nor can they boast of
theM2s deep two stroke thun-
der to announce their imminent
arrival from miles away or even
split asunder the quiet of a
warm Wanni night with a blast
from triple Airchime horns. Yet
in their inimitable way the M4s
have established a quiet repu-
tation as one of the most du-
rable classes of locomotives on
the Sri Lankan railway system.
The fact that they continue to
provide yeoman service still is
a testimony to the excellence
of their design and the stan-
dards of their manufacturer.
The M4 Class arrived in Sri
Lanka in 1975, a total of four-
teen locomotives in all. These
Class M10 DLW ALCO Locomotive
diesel electrics were manufac-
tured in Canada by MLW (now
owned by Bombardier) to an
American Locomotive Com-
pany (ALCO) design. They
were a standard ALCO prod-
uct adapted to Sri Lankas
broad gauge. At the time of
arrival they were the most pow-
erful locomotives in Sri Lanka,
their renowned ALCO 12-251C
engines developing a massive
1,750hp. Their tractive effort
was in excess of 50,000 lbs.
Understandably, they were big
locomotives, weighing around
94 tons and nearly 60 ft long,
with a Co-Co type wheel ar-
rangement. It is learnt that the
Sri Lankan Railways sent an
engineer over to MLW in
Canada for inspection and wit-
by Eng. D U L Peeligama(Life Member)
Class M4 MLW ALCO Locomotive
nessing the factory tests
prior to shipping the loco-
motives. The locomotives
came, but not the engineer,
apparently he stayed be-
hind and joined Canadian
Pacific, or so they say!
On arrival they began tak-
ing over the running of crack
expresses such as the
Yal Devi and
UdarataMenike, which
train had hitherto been the
preserve of the hydraulic
W2s, already showing
signs of impending and pre-
mature breakdown. Unfor-
tunately for the M4s, the
tight reverse curves of the
Up Country Main Line did
not take kindly to their im-
mense wheelbase and
weight. Soon it became
apparent that track dis-
placement was taking
place, especially at the
curves. Sadly, the M4s had
to be withdrawn from the
Up Country line and con-
fined to the more gentle
curves of the flat
lands,which duties they
handled admirably. It was
indeed an impressive sight
to see a huge M4 at speed,
galloping down the parched
Dry Zone plains with the
Yal Devi in tow!
It is pertinent here to briefly
explore the history of their
manufacturers and design.
The American Locomotive
Company (ALCO), estab-
lished in 1901, was a well-
known steam locomotive
builder in the US. They rose
to the pinnacle of locomotive
building when in 1941 they
unearthed the colossal Big
Boy, the largest steam lo-
Class M8 DLW ALCO Locomotive
comotive ever built,weighing
550 tons and capable of haul-
ing 4,000 ton freights unas-
sisted over the Sherman
Hills! By the mid-1930s, in-
terest in diesel traction in the
US was gaining momentum
due to the pioneering work
undertaken by the Electro
Motive Division (EMD) of
General Motors (GM). Al-
though ALCO had produced
a diesel locomotive in 1924
it was not until the late 1930s
that ALCO entered the die-
sel locomotive field in ear-
nest. In fact in the early
1940s ALCO produced the
first Road Switcher type lo-
comotive, the RS1. Unfortu-
nately for ALCO, EMD took
the Road Switcher concept
to the next level with their
revolutionary GP7 in 1949,
sweeping all before them in
the field of diesel locomotive
building. Sadly, EMDs sub-
sequent almost monopolistic
dominance, spelt the death
knell for ALCO.
ALCO found they could not
compete with the might of
GMs EMD and General
Electric (GE), a late entrant
to the diesel locomotive field.
Finally in 1969, they closed
down their Schenectady Lo-
comotive Works, becoming
defunct in the US. However,
MLW in Canada, already a
subsidiary of ALCO, contin-
ued the manufacture of
ALCO locomotives even in to
the 1980s, not withstanding
a take-over by Bombardier in
1975.
Fortunately for ALCO, de-
spite their demise in the US,
manufacturing of their de-
signs had been established
overseas, in Australia by
Goodwin and in India by the
Diesel Locomotive Works
(DLW) in Varanasi. The In-
dian Railways (IR) owned
DLW had been established
in 1961 and turned out their
first locomotives in 1964 to
a then current ALCO design.
DLW have not looked back
since and today is one of the
largest manufacturers of lo-
comotives in the world. Ad-
mittedly, their locomotives
may be to a now somewhat
archaic ALCO design dating
back several decades, but in
recent times they have
turned out state of the art AC
drive locomotives in collabo-
ration with EMD up to 5,000
hp in output. Nonetheless,
ALCO locomotives produced
by DLW have dominated the
Indian diesel scene for over
five decades. Of the five thou-
sand odd diesel locomotives
operating currently on the
vast Indian railway network,
one of the biggest and well
run railway operations in the
world, more than 60% are
ALCO! Especially the WDM
2 Class, a rugged and reli-
able variant of ALCOs
DL560C design, one of the
models developed by the
now defunct US Company in
the early 1960s for the world
market, has continued to be
the workhorse on Indian rail.
The Class still continues to
be built with over 2,700 units
constructed. IR has selected
this Class as the standard
design for their broad gauge
system.
IESL NEWS 7
It is then no surprise that the
M4 was joined by their cous-
ins from across the Palk
Straits, the Class M8 in 1996.
Even heavier than the M4 at
113 tons, they had the 16 cyl-
inder version of the ALCO
251B engine producing a
whopping 2,400 hp, the high-
est in Sri Lanka. With Co-Co
wheel arrangement, again
their weight and length pre-
cluded their use on the Up
Country Main Line. Two of the
eight locomotives received,
designated Class M8A, came
with the 12 cylinder engine
offering 2,000 hp. In 2012 the
M10 Class appeared, even
heavier at 117 tons and more
than 60 ft long, they remain
the heaviest and longest die-
sel locomotive to run on the
Sri Lankan system. Based on
the DLW Class WDM 3A, and
dual air/vacuum braking fitted,
their ALCO 251C engines pro-
duce 2,300 hp. With a total of
nine in the Class, used mainly
on the recently re-laid North-
ern track, their enormous trac-
tive effort approaching 60,000
lbs, could make short work of
the heaviest twenty coach
passenger trains on flat track.
No doubt the Indian ALCOs
have had their fair share of
teething troubles. Mainte-
nance charges such as cor-
rosion, oil leaks, engine prob-
lems have been levelled
against them, especially the
M8s. It is common to see a
grime and soot covered M8
clanging along belching black
smoke at the head of a train,
but then this is seen more as
an issue of poor maintenance
(perhaps not the black
smoke, see later!) than of de-
sign or manufacture. These
are a proven age old design,
relatively unsophisticated
without catastrophically fail-
ing electronics, hardy and
able to put up with rough and
tumble conditions! Their rug-
ged low revving engines (maxi-
mum 1,000 rpm) could go on
for decades. After all they are
the backbone of the railways
of our neighbours across the
Straits!
It is a well-known fact
amongst railway men that
ALCO locomotives often
throw out volumes of dense
black smoke, so much so,
that in some quarters of the
US, they have been dubbed
as honourary steam locomo-
tives! This is a feature ob-
served even with the relatively
new M10s! The reason for this
is turbo lag, at low rpm, un-
til notch 4 or 5 on the throttle
is selected, there is insuffi-
Contd. on page 11...

8 IESL NEWS
Readers please note opinions expressed in the
following article are solely that of the author and open
for discussion.
Calming Claims
by
Prioritizing
Intention
by Eng. S.D.S. Deshapriya,
RDA
I
t was a debatable matter
in the law field few days
back regarding the validity
of contesting for third term by
the previous president. The
argument from one side is
that he was not qualified
because of not following the
procedure correctly to get
qualified for contesting. The
other party denied it saying
that the intention or objective
is of prime importance and
hence the adherence to the
procedure is a secondary
matter. That seems to be a
very valid argument because,
a simple mistake or deviation
of one party should not make
a chance for the other party
to defeat the intention & to
change the whole scope or
the whole matter. {Not only in
this case, but in general also
(willful)intention is given the
prominence in law when
deciding the cases (specially
the murder cases);hence in
one hand, the above argument
is not a new thing to the law.
Hence the writer has taken
the above particular issue and
mentioned the importance in
this instance not to favour any
party (those who are
involved), but solely to extend
it to the Civil Engineering field
also & only to get the
advantage of it for solving the
disputes in this field }
Contractual claims are
formed based on the
conditions of contract,
according to the provisions
there in & interpretations.
Contract agreement
comprises of a set of
conditions of which agreed
upon by the contractor & the
client to perform & fulfill
during the construction is
going on. Both the parties of
the agreement are with a
general norm that no party is
coming to the agreement,
with a willful intention of
loosing or falling the other
party in trouble & they are in
good faith. In the context of
contractual claims, there are
very obvious claim situations
such as delay in instructions
& decisions, machines
ideling due to work stoppage,
idling due to shifting of
services, due to attending for
extra work, instructions for
acceleration, etc. This is the
first category of claiming. In
addition to these obvious
situations ,claims are seems
to have been lodged for some
other situations also, which
are not much clear & not
straight forward as above.
Some of the loop holes in the
clauses, some of the
discripancies, ambiguities in
contract clauses, when some
requirement is not very
specifically stated in writing
or covered situations in the
document, laps in the
contractual procedure (not
following & fulfilling the correct
contract procedures),
deviations & omissions, way
of interpreting, ignoring
implied terms, general
practice, norms, back ground,
innocent mistakes, wrong
assumptions etc. are the
examples to such unclear
situations. It can be
considered as the second
category of claiming.
With regard to the
occurrences of the first
category, claim situation is
very obvious & no
arguments;hence the
contractor is entitled for
claiming extra. Compare to
the first, mostly for the
second category will be
having strong points to be
argued by the both parties for
& against the claim. It is
resulted, because of this
unclear & disparity nature of
the claim. Hence, mostly the
second category, due to this
unclear nature will lead to
extend (drag-on)the matter till
arbitration for a final decision.
Hence this paper will look into
the latter type(second
category ) of claims which
mentioned as unclear
situations, ambiguities etc &
solving of the claims promptly
by stressing the intention &
with due respect to the same
(as in above court case)
without dragging on till
arbitration.
In contractual claims, some
times the contractor is trying
to get the advantage of the
situation by claiming from the
client in extra sum of money
& some times the client is
trying to get the advantage by
requesting the contractor to
do at his cost while assuming
that it has been covered in the
document & included in the
rates. Sometimes the
Contd. on page 11...
DO IT RIGHT!
AT THE RIGHT TIME!
by Eng. Tharindu Weerasinghe
[MSc.Eng, BSc.Eng(Hons), C|EH, MIEEE, MCCSL, AMIESL]
W
e may feel un
happy about our
past because we
have missed several things
which could have been ac-
complished in the past! In re-
ality, we may not be able to
fulfill each and everything
that we plan but if we dont
have proper plans and en-
thusiasm then we will surely
miss things and moments of
our lives, that will lead us to
feel unhappy about our past!
To live happily at present,
you should have done things
that you should do in the
past. (It does not mean that
we should always think of
our successful past and be
happier but it is nice to have
a successful past to move
forward) If I elaborate on it
further, you must concen-
trate on doing the appropri-
ate work at the appropriate
age. You should learn what
you should and what you like
to learn (school education,
higher education, technical
education and so on) when
you are a child and young-
ster. You should do physi-
cal activities (sports, yoga,
fitness trainings, etc.) when
you are young. You should
try to enjoy music, read nov-
els, play music instruments,
write poems etc. in your
spare time. Likewise we
need to do things that we
want to do in the appropri-
ate period in our lives. We
should not let ourselves suf-
fer when we are old, think-
ing about the missing as-
pects in our youth. We
should always keep in mind
that there is time and place
for everything. We need to
accomplish things at the
right time. We have to be
good children, need to be
lovers and have to be respon-
sible parents to our children
at the right time of our life
span. If we have accom-
plished those goals at the
right time then we are suc-
cessful as laymen/women.
I have several examples to
emphasize that we should
have accomplished most of
the things that should have
been done during our child-
hood and young age. I feel
sad about me sometimes
because I cant play any
musical instrument and I
Sri Lanka Engineering News - March/April 2015
cant swim. I really do think
that I have missed learning
and practicing those two
things during my childhood
and I do believe that I am
not too late to accomplish
those as I am still in my
early thirties. But slowly but
surely, when you are being
loaded with responsibilities,
you may not have flexibility
of doing what you like to do,
frequently.
Extracurricular activities
When I was in the univer-
sity, I engaged in many ex-
tracurricular activities re-
lated to arts, public speak-
ing and cricket. I was keen
on being popular among the
campus crowd as an aes-
thetic engineering under-
graduate. Because of that I
may have missed a first
class honors. [I ended up
with a second (lower) class
honors] Now I have 60%-
40% feelings of guilt and
pride; guilt because, I didnt
make it towards a 1st class
and; pride because, I was
a popular/all-round under-
graduate in the university.
Anyway, I still wonder why
I have missed a first class
or second upper...But as a
professional, now I am
happy about the way that I
appear in the society and
about my past also, but I
should have paid more at-
tention towards studies dur-
ing my university life.
With experience, now I
know my strengths and
weaknesses. So what do I
do now? I make my
strengths stronger and
weaknesses, lesser...
Different Walks of Life
I was a lover, then became
a husband, then became a
father...These significant
episodes of human life
should be completed at the
right time! As laymen, we
should love, should be lov-
ers; should be married,
should be good spouses;
should cuddle the kids,
should be good parents. If
these significant episodes
get delayed then the life is
not comfortable as we think.
We may buy a car, buy or
build a house, enjoy our
spare time, chill-out with fam-
ily and friends.These things
make you completed if you do
them at right time!
Duties
We must take care of our par-
ents. When they get old and
weaker we are the ones who
should look after them. Oth-
erwise we may feel the guilt
when our parents are not with
us anymore. Sometimes due
to our busy schedules we
tend to forget our parents
needs. Our busy schedules
are not an excuse for not tak-
ing care of our parents. We
should organize our time
tables in a way that we are
able to look after our parents.
As citizens, we must be loyal
to our country. We should not
carry any harmful feelings to
destroy the sovereignty of this
country. We should act timely
when the motherland needs
us! If we are late then we may
feel the guilt!
As professionals we must be
loyal to our professions. We
must have the dedication and
integrity to be successful pro-
fessionals. If we are late then
may feel the guilt!Start think-
ing about you now! If you think
that you are late in some epi-
sodes, and then make sure
that you are not, anymore!
Identify where you were and
where you should have been;
that will help you to be at the
right place at the right time!
Thus, it is obvious that there
is time and place for every-
thing. To avoid sorrow at
present, you must have a
proper past, [proper gives the
meaning of well
managed!]Here I have shared
something which I experi-
enced over the last 15 years
and they taught me good les-
sons! This existence is very
short; as laymen we need to
get the maximum out of it.
Have proper plans, arrange
them, execute them, optimize
them, maintain them - then
you will become a person with
success! We must be people
who do things right, at the right
time! To end this article, I must
recall something that the Lord
Buddha has mentioned: I will
write it as I have understood
it: Dont be late! People who
are late will suffer; People who
are not will win!
Sri Lanka Engineering News - March/April 2015
A Beautiful mind
A movie worth
seeing
by Eng. Thushara Dissanayake
Department of Irrigation
T
he movie A beautiful
mind is based on the
biography of the great
American mathematician John
Forbes Nash. He won the
Nobel Prize in economic sci-
ences for his work on Game
Theory together with his col-
leagues ReinhardSelten and
John Harsnyi in 1994. Born in
June 13, 1928 John Forbes
Nash has worked on differen-
tial geometry and partial differ-
ential equations as well to pro-
vide solutions to many practi-
cal complexities of real world.
Today, the Game Theory is
used in strategic decision
making especially in conflict
resolution.
The movie A beautiful mind
was directed by Ron Howard
and it won four Academy
Awards, for Best Picture, Best
Director, Best Adapted Screen-
play and Best Supporting Ac-
tress in the 74th Academy
Awards held in 2002. Russell
Crowe portrayed as John Nash
and Jennifer Connelly acted as
Alicia Nash, the spouse of
Nash.
The story of this sentimental
biographic drama film starts
with the university life of John
Nash at Princeton University in
1947. This handsome genius
is a recipient of the prestigious
Carnegie scholarship for math-
ematics. During his early life
in the university Nash begins
to develop paranoid schizo-
phrenia. Nash publishes an ar-
ticle on new concept of govern-
ing dynamics which paves him
the way to join the Massachu-
setts Institute of Technology
(MIT). Later Nash is invited to
crack encrypted enemy com-
munications at the Pentagon.
His mental ability to decode
those codes surpassed the
abilities of all others involved
in this task. Considering his
decoding talents he is as-
signed to look for patterns in
printed material like newspa-
pers and magazines in order
to prevent Soviet conspira-
cies. Meanwhile he falls in love
with his student Alicia Larde
(Connelly) and before long
they get married.
After witnessing a shootout
between his Supervisor and
Soviet agents he feels that his
life is at risk. While delivering
a lecture at the Harvard Uni-
versity he flees from the place
as he develops a sudden anxi-
ety as a result of paranoid
schizophrenia. Nash believes
that all men who wore red ties
are agents of communist con-
spiracy against him. Later he
is forcibly kept at a psychiat-
ric facility and he believes that
it belongs to Soviet agents.
The treatments cause side
effects like lethargy and Nash
stops taking his medicine.
Nash becomes more ob-
sessed leading to many con-
flicts in his family life as well.
Finally, with Alicias help he re-
covers his mental strength
and regains his status as a
great mathematician. With the
gradual improvement of his
mental condition he is able to
start his academic activities
ture and served as Road
again. In 1994, he wins the
Nobel Memorial Prize in Eco-
nomics for his revolutionary
work on game theory.
A beautiful mind is one of the
best biography films I have
ever seen. It is a real example
of a courageous man, in fact
a mathematical genius, who
ultimately reaches to great
heights surpassing all agonies
and obstacles. Russell Crowe
and Jennifer Connelly perform
their roles excellently.
Russells role as a person
suffering from schizophrenia is
almost real. I wonder why he
could not win the prize for the
best actor even having been
nominated for the same at the
Academy Awards.However,
there are some popular criti-
cisms on the movie. The crit-
ics say that some aspects of
Nashs life are not portrayed
in the movie. One such criti-
cism is that he has had an-
other family with a son born
out of wedlock. According to
the filmmakers they have not
expected to literally represent
all life events of Nash.
All in all, this is a great movie
with a mix of humor, romance
and sympathy. If you are a
movie lover this will be a movie
worth seeing.
IESL NEWS 9
TRIBUTE TO LATE
ENG. S. CHANDRAPALAN
Eng. Shanmugampillai government servants who were
Chandrapalan, Senior in a class by themselves.
Project Director in Road
Development Authority
and well known person- His was a life that exemplified
ality in social and reli- brilliance and inspired all who
crossed his path. With his
gious activities passed
dedicated service as a
away on 15-03-2015 at
Charted Engineer to the local
private hospital in Co-
& foreign countries since its
lombo after a brief illness
inception Eng Chandrapalan
at the age of 59.
touches the lives of many with
In April 1984 Eng his kind and gentle nature, his
He had his primary edu-
Chandrapalan joint Target soft spoken words in all three
cation at Navalapitiya
L.L.C Sultanate of Oman as languages and his ever smil-
Kathiresan Kumara
site Engineer and served two ing face. He was sincere, ear-
Maha Vidyalaya and
and half year in 2.4 km nest and loyal in his service.
Gampola Zahira College.
Gabbion Wall Project Site. His was living proof of how fine
He entered the Moratuwa a Project Director can be. He
When he returns back to Sri was not only cheerful in him-
University in 1976 and
Lanka in October 1986 he self but he gave much cheer-
passed out in 1980 with
joins the Balfour Beatty Inter- fulness to others, especially
B. Sc. Eng (Hons) in
national Ltd as Senior Engi-
Civil Engineering and to his family.
neer at Victoria Randenigala
completed his Master
Road Project. Later in Janu-
Engineering in Construc-
ary 1988 he joined Road De-
tion Management in 1991 The management and the staff
velopment Authority as Resi-
at the same University. of the Ministry of Highways,
dent Engineer and served in
Higher Education and Invest-
many Local & Foreign
From December 1980 he ment Promotion and Road De-
Funded Projects in various
joined the Keangnam velopment Authority are deeply
capacities such as Senior
Enterprises Ltd as Site saddened by the death of Eng
Engineer, Project Engineer, Chandrapalan. He was indeed
Engineer on New Town
Chief Engineer, Dy. Director an extraordinary engineer, a
Development Project and
and Project Director. true friend and most of all a
later in 1981 March he
great humanitarian.
decided to join in Central
During the period of March
Engineering Consultancy
2000 to March 2012 he served
Bureau (CECB) and sec-
in Bangladesh Wilbur Smith
onded to the Balfour Though Eng Chandrapalan is
Associate as Pavement En-
Beatty Nuttall Joint Ven- not among the living today,
gineer in Road Project.
memories of him will remain
Engineer in Victoria Hy- for the rest of our time.
Engineer Chandrapalan can
dro Electric Power
best be described firstly as a
Project.
gentleman to the core and Eng Jayantha Gunathilake
true friend who will go the ex- Addl. Secretary (Eng)
In May 1983 he served
tra miles for you. He had dis- Ministry of Highways, Higher
as a design engineer in
ciplined himself and the fam- Education and Investment
CECB and Seconded to
ily. He was the man of the
Sir William Halcrowe Promotion
highest integrity and be-
Partners on Kotmale
longed to that rare breed of
Hydro Electric Power .
Project.
Contd. from page 7... ALCO, the Unsung....
cient air produced by the turbocharger for proper combustion, the unburnt fuel passing off
into the exhaust stack as soot and smoke. Once the turbocharger reaches speed and
adequate air is provided, the problem eases off in the higher notches. It is learnt that DLW
is working on a new design of turbo to overcome this phenomenon.
Despite being a dying breed, vintage ALCO locomotives are still going strong in many
parts of the world, quite apart from India. In countries such as Australia, Mexico, Canada,
parts of Africa and some corners of the US where they were born, several ALCOs are
performing to this day,their relative simplicity and ruggedness lending them for ease of
maintenance and operability, seemingly oblivious to the passage of years.
In Sri Lanka, of the thirty one ALCO locomotives, as far as is known, none have been
scrapped or withdrawn, some even after four decades of intense and almost unnoticed
service, unlike several other classes. No question here, they are the undisputableunsung
heroes of Sri Lankan rail!
Reference:
Evolution of the American Diesel Locomotive, J Parker Lamb, Indiana University Press,
2007 Railway Engineering, Satish Chandra & M M Agarwal, Oxford University Press, 2013
Photos courtesy of Rail Pictures Net

10 IESL NEWS
Contd. from page 4...
Challenges and
opportunities....
Information Warfare
is still un-chartered waters
in the case of developing
Navies such as Sri Lanka
Navy. Some countries be-
lieve certain military forces
are employing Cyber warriors
capable of stealing sensitive
data, engineering computer
viruses, launch attack and
counter-attacks on the Net,
develop software for info-
blocking, paralyzing and
deception etc.
The threat of
Internet, vulnerability of
Navaldata networks and se-
cure strategies are being
studied continuously for
possible solutions and
counter actions by the re-
spective authorities of devel-
oping nations.
EW as a tool of Network
Centric Warfare
Network Centric
warfare, rather Network Cen-
tric Operations are being
looked at very seriously at
higher levels of
Navalleadership. Electronic
Warfare plays a major role
at the conduct of Network
Centric Operations. Al-
though the deploymentof
NCO in developing countries
is at its infancy, unknown
enemy is already utilizing
high end counter measures
against possible Network
Centric ambitions. The cur-
rent drive is much centered
on securing the information
infrastructure on which lim-
ited number of high end Net-
work Centric sensors are
viewed, controlled and main-
tained.
Asymmetric warfare
standpoint
Sri Lanka had its
share of asymmetric warfare
during its 30 years war
against terrorism. Terrorists
used strategies and tactics
which are un-conventional
such as the use of human
shields, Suicide jackets,
Suicide small boats, suicide
stealth boats, suicide semi
submerged vessels, and
Kamikaze style light air
craft. No means of standard EW
systems could have avoided suc-
cess of such tactics. For an ex-
ample stealth boats made out of
fiber glass and semi submerged
suicide vessels could not be de-
tected by radar due to very small
radar cross section. This
prompted the Navy to look for
customized small target trackers
which was later acquired and
used very effectively against sui-
cide threat.
On the Navys front, an innova-
tive use of swarming tactics us-
ing a large number of small, fast
fiber glass boats fitted with high
caliber guns and manned by a
handful number of sailors against
a cluster of terrorist boats proved
much effective although it pushed
asymmetric warfare techniques
to its extremes. Special boats
were constructed at mass scale
at a Naval boat building facility
which continuously upgraded its
capability with the ongoing battle
experience. Rapid Action Boat
Squadron thus formed consisted
of brave men from all branches
who volunteered to counter the
threat posed by suicide craft and
attack boat combinations.
ECM capability on a
larger platform acting as a
mother ship would have been an
effective force multiplier for this
RABS operation but time was not
enough for an acquisition of such
multi-faceted capability.
Also no incidents were
reported where enemy
have used Jamming or
deception equipment.
Sri Lankan EW expe-
rience in 30 years of
war against terrorism
The Initial
phase from late 1970s
to 1990, only Human Intelligence
(HUMINT) was utilized. The use
of amateur RF communications
by terrorists prompted authorities
to acquire small scale Electronic
Intelligence (ELINT)systems.
The Middle Phase from
1990 to 2006, saw heavy use of
ELINT by both sides. Induction
of jammers in to the Navy also
occurred during this phase. The
Military started using ESM sys-
tems to analyze enemy activi-
ties. On the joint Military aspect
there was better coordina-
tion between individual
EW arms of the Military.
During the final
phase from 2006 to 2009
the Military used ECM
heavily and Research and
development was done to
develop in-house RCIED
jammers by MOD. Locally
developed RCIED jam-
mers prevented many road
side IEDs, targeting troop
and civilian movements in
the Northern and Eastern
parts of the island. In fact
due to indiscriminate use
of IEDs, government was
compelled to use the
RCIED jammers in other
areas as well. Few inte-
grated ESM systems en-
tered in to service and
Joint EW doctrine was
practiced under a central
body under MOD which
saw greater coordination
and operational success.
Challenges in deploy-
ing advanced EW capa-
bilities
The main challenge in de-
ploying advanced EW ca-
pabilities in developing
Navies is the lack of
funds.The fact that EW
systems are extremely
expensive can make it
worse in taking procure-
ment decisions due to
value for money consider-
ations. Institutional and
administrative difficulties
in developing technology
transfer agreements and
actually implementing
them can become a real
negative factor in this as-
pect.
EW system pro-
curements can be lined up
lower when prioritizing ac-
quisition programs due its
complexity and utility
value.Lack of customized
solutions in the world EW
market may confuse the
decision maker whilst
identifying system require-
ments in the local situa-
tion. The threats envis-
aged in developing nations
may not be sufficiently ad-
dressed by the system
designers who are much
Sri Lanka Engineering News - March/April 2015
interested in studying re-
quirements of advanced
militaries. Complexities in
procedures of high cost pur-
chases will discourage EW
procurement staff to en-
gage in and manage a large
scale procurements. This
may be exaggerated by the
lack of reputed local agents
who can be trusted to pro-
vide efficient after sales
service support.
Problem of skill
levels of Operators is an-
other bone of contention.
Most EW systems are so
complex thus operation,
maintenance and training
are very difficult tasks to
sustain over a long period
of time in a system of peri-
odical transfer of operators.
Sensitivity of Advanced
Electronics to extreme
weather and quality of
Power supplies in develop-
ing countries are also a
major factor where sys-
tems designed for ad-
vanced militaries fail once
it is subjected to harsh con-
ditions. There have been
many examples of defects
in power supplies of ad-
vanced electronic systems
when deployed in Sri
Lanka.
Opportunities for EW sys-
tem designers for cus-
tomized solutions
Having looked at
the challenges to deploy-
ing advanced EW capabili-
ties, I would now like to
consider the opportunities
for EW designers and
manufacturers for providing
customized solutions to
developing nations. Modu-
lar system design can be
employed by the system
designers with customized
blocks so that threat per-
ception of developing mili-
taries can be addressed
more effectively. Adopting
simple technology transfer
mechanisms will pave way
for win-win situation for both
the manufacturer and EW
user.Measures have to be
adopted to increase aware-
ness of EW utilization in
the Information age with ap-
plicable examples and real life
situations.
It is also prudent to
make the advanced systems
more affordable using COTS
modules where more user re-
placeable units are included in
system design.Even the most
rudimentary operator knows
how to use a smart phone app.
It will be much beneficial if the
User Interface of advanced EW
systems were designed to
look and feel more like apps
in a smart phone.System de-
signers can make equipment
more robust to cater for low
power quality, surges and ex-
treme environmental condi-
tions prevailing in developing
countries.
There are three addi-
tional considerations that I
would like to mention. Firstly,
The EW manufacturers can
encourage research in devel-
oping Navies into deployment
of advanced technologies.
Such research can bring about
the benefits of advanced EW
technologies and work out the
modalities for effective deploy-
ment. Secondly, Long term
Payment options and funding
mechanisms proposed along
with the offers will make them
very attractive in case of lim-
ited fund situations in most of
the procurements.Finally,
more live demonstrations and
providing trial systems for a
short duration will ensure in-
creased user experience with
advanced technologies thus
creating more opportunities to
make a positive procurement
decision.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I would like
to emphasis that there are
many challenges that exist in
advancement of EW opera-
tions in developing Navies. I
have analyzed the subject un-
der consideration with my ex-
perience in managing the de-
ployment of advanced tech-
nologies at staff level as a staff
officer and at line level as a
systems engineer.I have pro-
posed strategies to overcome
barriers from a users point of
view. It is my suggestion that
more knowledge sharing
mechanisms shall be in place
between developing Militaries
and system designers.The
most important fact is that EW
system penetration in develop-
ing navies is at a very low level
therefore more opportunities
exist for increased deployment
for the mutual benefit of the
system designer and the user.
Sri Lanka Engineering News - March/April 2015
IESL NEWS 11

Contd. from page 5.... ence. There was a question as The Dept of Electrical En- Contd. from page 8.... Calming Claims....
Electrified Transportation, to whether the proposed Mono- gineering of the University
rail system is still a possibility of Moratuwa presented the procedural errors (of claiming process) of the contractor also
Now.... will lead to loose his entitlements. Hence due to this situation
and the answer form the panel results and conclusions of
turn path for the current, so that a survey they conducted on is equally affected to the both parties. Hence the application
was that there are number of
existing railway lines and sta- Public Perception on Elec- of technique (giving preference to the intention) to solve the
economically feasible solu-
tions can be used with modifi- trified Transportation. It claims, will benefit to both parties equally.
tions to improve the transpor-
cations. Based on an economi- said that majority of the re-
tation sector other than that.
cal appraisal of the proposed Hence above application (of giving preference to the intention)
spondents are willing to
system, he said that it will cost is considered here for three claim situations. Claims with
Prof. Samarajeewa accept electrified transpor-
nearly 30 million USD with an procedural errors, claims due to other factors, claims with
Karunaratne, a former Vice tation if the increment of the
internal rate of return of 15.1% willful (wrong)intention are the three types which taken up
Chancellor of the University of travelling fare is less than
pointing out that, Electric Mul- here for solving by the above technique. These three claim
Moratuwa recalled his memo- 25%. The conclusion alto-
tiple Units can be imported at situations are considered separately.
ries on electric trolly buses and gether was that the public
a similar cost to the Diesel Mul- has a general idea, but
tram cars in 1960s. Prof. 1 As far as the contractual claims are considered,
tiple Units. lacks detailed knowledge
K.K.Y.W. Perera, the Chancel- argument made for the validity (supremacy) of intention over
lor of University of Moratuwa about electrified transpor-
Dr. Beshan Kulapala, Research the procedure (which had been raised in the above court
joined him saying that the rea- tation.
Scientist at CodeGen Interna- case) is also very important Hence, with respect to the first
son to terminate those was The panel discussion category of claims, above court case is having a direct
tional and the Project Manager
somehow due to increasing ended up with a number of relationship & similarity in nature. Therefore same technique
of Vega Electric Car Project
costs of electricity and disre- valuable recommendations (of preference) can be applied directly to solve the first
presented a brief overview of
gard of the system. The impli- to electrify the transporta-category of claim situations by disregarding the procedural
the technology behind electri-
cation of these academics was tion sector and of course
fied transportation talked about errors in claim processing. Therefore the claim will not be
that we should learn lessons the relevant authorities
the feasibility of adopting that nullified merely due to the procedural errors & it will be taken
from the past and maximum have already stated that
technology to Sri Lanka, which to proceed further, since the intention of the party who lodged
flexibility of both authorities is they have given a fresh
has already been a success in the claim, dominates.2 Apart from the procedural errors,
an essence. Moreover, there start in this regard. Lets
Vega Electric Car Project. there are many other factors & situations such as
were suggestions to implement hope that this time the long
Once all the panellists have pre- discripancies, ambiguities, unspecified matters, exclusions,
at least a few electric busses standing dream of electri-
sented their ideas, the open deviations, omissions, mistakes etc. as stated earlier, which
known as Capa-busses that fied transportation will
discussion round raised a num- give rise to clam situations. In the light of this concept (of
run in China, on our roads as come true.
ber of questions from the audi- preference to the intention), these factors are to be
well.
considered. In otherwards all the factors, situations etc. have
Contd. from page 6.. Electrified Transportation - The Step..... to be analized with respect to the intention (prioritizing
able energy as I believe it so. Fortunately now all the relevant sectors in Energy are brought intention or objective). Hence through this approach, will cause
together. So if we are to take any initiative on electrification of the transport sector there to nullify many claims.
should be constant dialog between these two sectors and unified policy initiatives should be
adopted with absolute commitment from all concerned. Stressing the intention(or objective) is seems to be a very
I am not going to dwell on statistics or forward any definite blueprints how this should be done strong concept & a technique, to solve the conflict situations
as there is enough expertise in this room to do that. Further I am not in any way an expert in which are debatable. Since this concept works in conflicts
transport. However, as a person who was involved in promoting Integrated Energy Planning in beyond logic, same can be used to solve the conflicts which
the 1980s with Prof. Mohan Munasinghe in his team, all I can say is there is an ideal oppor- are arguable & having stronger points by the both parties.
tunity for us to start this effort once again at least with the transport sector for efficiency gains This will give rise to more sensible ground for the solutions
in both sectors. beyond logical mechanism & back ground. Hence through
this mechanism( of giving preference to the intention) will
In the years gone by we had steam locomotives powered by coal, spewing thick black smoke
facilitate for both justification/nullify & evaluation of the claim
depositing coal soot and dust all along the rails lines that ran in the most beautiful part of the
in balance manner.
country. Those days we were not bothered about environmental pollution. Now we have Coal
power plants with all the environmental safeguards. We have no black fumes, SOx and NOx Some times for the sake of arguing it seems that even very
pollutions are under control. We have a clean and an efficient source of energy, electricity
obvious situations are not considered & ignored intentionally.
available 24x7 throughout the country with load factors that can be improved that will yield
As a result of this, role of fare play is disappeared. It is not
enormous economic benefits. So what are we waiting for? There is an obvious choice an ideal
relevant or limited to an one party only. This is the case
win-win situation waiting to be exploited for greater good of the country. This will be a case of
which relevant to both the client as well as the contractor.
shifting the fuel for transportation back again to coal shifting away from oil, but this time in a
Similarly this is not limited to one organization or one
much more efficient and an environmentally friendly and a sound manner.
particular client but this is common in the construction
Moreover we all know there are two predominant transport rush hours in the morning and in the industry. Most of the foreign contractors are claim conscious
afternoon more towards the evening hours, We have to take advantage of this phenomenon & Therefore the claim departments are maintained separately
that suits well with the electricity daily demand curve which takes a dip in those times. This for this purpose. Bidding less to win the bid with the intention
should be used with prudence to derive the economic benefit to both sectors and the country of claiming extra later on is the technique they follow usually.
at large by electrifying railways and even introducing electric trolley buses. Hence undoubtedly, the claims are to be expected from them
However, individual charging of smaller motor vehicles need to be regulated with proper power & the care must be taken to find the direct as well as the
quality standards and tariff making to take advantage of the low price of electricity that the hidden intentions of these contractors who lodge the claim,
CEB should be able offer to fill the valleys in the daily power demand curves. This can be before proceeding. Then this suspicious looking it will give
easily done with proper planning and studies. the access to find their hidden objectives & intention & also
more factors which were hided intentionally perhaps which
In the CEB we have looked at vehicle charging centres before the electric vehicles are brought nulifing the claim at all. Hence the concept of giving
to the country in large scale. There is an urgent need to get on with the pilot projects that we preference to the intention has been manipulated in three
in CEB were contemplating. This will help CEB to come up with proper standards for charging
different ways in these cases. Role of domination, as a basis
centres and also a proper tariff to encourage charging of these vehicles in the off peak hours.
for the evaluation,(hidden)intention & decisive factors to be
We are also well aware of the sliding costs of solar pV panels of which the prices have come find out , are these forms which highlighted here.
down significantly due to large scale pV manufacturing plants that have come up in China. We
must take advantage of this now and even solar powered charging centres can be made Above three situations shows that, through this method will
popular, but all these need careful evaluation before we embark on any one of them. With the be able to solve many claim situations without resorting for
large potential of wind to be developed in the country in the future we would be in a position to arbitration. However, technically it is a issue which connected
power the transport of our country to a great extent on Coal and renewable energy sources to the documentation. Further, as far as considering the
from todays 100% Oil base. difficulties & time spending, prevention as much as possible
We do not lack the expertise on the maters I have raised today. We also have with us Minis- is the best than trying to solve the claim once it occurs. It
ters who are committed to do what is right and prudent. We dont need expertise unlike in seems that most of the ambiguities, discrepancies, doubts
building complex power plants or other infrastructure like harbours and air ports. Some deci- etc. are avoidable & these can be addressed at the document
sions can be made with rudimentary studies while others like railway electrification may take stage. Hence the document updating is essential with regard
few more months of detail studies to carry out the feasibility and detail designs etc. But we all to the prevention of claims are concerned. Mostly the
agree this is an urgent need. The country has wasted so much of time we have made mis- occasions & situations which are not covered by the
takes in the past very expensive mistakes starting from scrapping electrified transportation we documents will give rise to the claim situations. Hence
once had, delaying the Coal power project for no apparent reason, delaying the railway electri- inclusion of all possible situations & its combinations
fication for reasons best known for very few. These are some such very expensive mistakes. (combined situations) to the documents, giving preference,
The need of the hour is for us all to get together and do what is right. arresting through further detailing at the second stage, giving
inter-pritations will be very meaningful & become the major
As I always say to quote from the Bible: knowing what is right to do and not doing is a sin
steps to be taken at the documentation stage, in order to
Let us not collectively sin by prolonging this discussion any more let us map out a strategy
together. mitigate the claim situations.
 Sri Lanka Engineering News - March/April 2015
12 IESL NEWS

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