Engineer wins major Sri Lankan-based award

17 December 2001

University of Wollongong engineer, Professor Buddhima Indraratna, has been recognised for his outstanding research into soft clay improvement by being awarded an inaugural felicitation award for Sri Lankan expatriates.

Professor Indraratna, of the UOW's Faculty of Engineering, was awarded the honour for his research into Soft Clay Engineering at UOW, which has contributed significantly to the Civil Engineering Construction in poor ground conditions in Sri Lanka. He was one of only five eminent Sri Lankan expatriate scientists and engineers to be awarded the inaugural "Late Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike felicitation award for 2001.'

The other four Sri Lankan awardees hail from the fields of organic chemistry, coastal mechanics and improvement, mechanical engineering and meteorology in North America and Europe. Their research and professional contributions are considered by the Sri Lankan Ministry of Science and Technology to have made a significant impact on the science and technological development of Sri Lanka.

Professor Indraratna said that he was honoured to receive the award, which was awarded in honour of former Sri Lankan Prime Minister and the first woman Head of State in the world, Mrs Sirimavo Bandaranaike. He said the award was recognition of his research conducted at UOW in soft clay improvement with sub-surface drainage, which has had a significant impact on the geotechnical know-how and construction activities in Sri Lanka, particularly in and around the city of Colombo.

"A number of Australian design and construction firms are busy in Sri Lanka dealing with the problems of soft and weak soil conditions in Sri Lanka, including Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation and John Holland Ltd, " Professor Indraratna said.

Apart from his own professional contributions to the National Building Research Organisation in Colombo during recent times, a number of Sri Lankan engineers have been trained in this area of research at UOW.

The Sirimavo Bandaranaike Felicitation Award follows a Swedish Geotechnical Society Award awarded to Professor Indraratna in June 1999 for his research into soft clay improvement.

For further information contact Professor Buddhima Indraratna, of the University's Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering on 4221 3046.