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IEEE Sri Lanka Section
Annual Report 2010
PART A - SECTION SUMMARY
A.1 Executive Summary
New executive committee members were selected for the 2010 as follows.
Chair: Dr. Lilantha Samaranayake, University of Peradeniya
Vice-chair: Dr. Vijitha Herath, University of Peradeniya
Secretary: Dr. Chandima Pathirana, University of Moratuwa
Assistant Secretary: Dr. Ranga Rodrigo, University of Moratuwa
Treasurer: Dr. Anuja Dharmaratne, University of Colombo, School of Computing
Assistant Treasurer: Dr. Chamath Keppetiyagama, University of Colombo, School of Computing
Student Councilor: Prof. Sisil Kumarawadu, University of Moratuwa
Industry Coordinator: Dr. Anne Abeygunasekara, Dialog Axiata PLC
Committee Members:
Mr. Gihan Seneviratne, University of Colombo, School of Computing
Mr. Vijith Seneviratne, Department of Post and Telecommunication
Prof. Gihan Dias, University of Moratuwa
The following new society chapters were started and have been very active throughout:
1. Communication Society
2. Microwave Theory and Techniques
3. Power Engineering Society
In 2010, we organized 13 IEEE technical meetings. In addition, 5 technical meetings and lectures
by Communication Society chapter, 1 technical meetings and lectures by Computer Society
chapter, 2 workshops to the industry and 1 lecture by Microwave Theory and Techniques
Society Chapter, 6 technical meetings and lectures by Power Engineering Society chapter, 4
technical meetings and lectures by the Central Region Sub Section, which were all jointly
organized and or co-sponsored by the Section.
In addition, the section was a technical co-sponsor for 5 IEEE international conferences.
A.2 Financial Report
The balance at the beginning of 2010 was Rs. 921,671.86 and at the end of the year it was Rs.
1,213,784.54, which includes Rs. 450,000.00 fixed deposits. Expenses in 2010 were Rs.
292,112.68.
PART B - ORGANIZATIONAL ACTIVITIES
B.1 Membership Development Activities
The following table compares the membership development in each category and it can be seen
that there is a significant improvement in Member and Student Member categories.
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Member Category
Affiliate
Associate Member
Fellow
Graduate Student Member
Life Member
Member
Senior Member
Student Member
Total
2009
distribution
0
16
0
43
0
364
6
184
613
2010
distribution
4
22
1
44
3
422
9
215
720
There is a 15.9% increase in the Member category and out of the entire Member category 48%
are from the industry, which is a significant achievement in the region. Some of the
contributions for the above achievement may be
1. Section appointed an Industry Relations Officer, who is essentially a nominee who works in
the industry, in the Section executive committee. This step helped a lot because by nature IEEE
members are predominantly from academia and engineers in the industry used to think that
IEEE is for academics. By this step, Sri Lanka Section somehow diluted that idea.
2. When organizing events, the section paid a considerable attention to the industry, for
example by fixing the event time and venues which are convenient for the industry engineers to
participate. Further, even the topics selected were very much at the level suitable for industry
and professional rather than highly theoretical and academic. This way, the section could win
the hearts of the industry.
3. Especially in the state sector, engineers would like to have a better recognition if they
become IEEE members. Therefore IEEE Sri Lanka section approached the government of Sri
Lanka to request to recognize IEEE as a professional body to provide special benefits which are
applicable to similar bodies. This work is in progress and we keep the industry posted of the
progress. Also as the section chair I discussed this with 2011 CEO/IEEE at the R10 meeting in
Cebu last year and he extended the fullest corporation.
4. We Technically Co Sponsored 5 IEEE International Conferences during the term 2010/2011
and increased the public appearance of IEEE, especially in places where the industry
participates. I think that also helped to increase the industry participation.
In addition, the student member percentage has also increased by 16.8%. This is expected as
the Section engaged in many of the student branch activities such as IEEE Xtreme competition,
Robot competitions, Student branch activation programs, etc., by providing professional
guidance, sharing knowledge and experiences and by partial funding.
B.2 Chapter Activities
At the beginning only Computer Society chapter existed. In order to expand the section
activities and strengthen the professional network, three more chapters were started as follows:
1. Communication Society
2. Microwave Theory and Techniques
3. Power Engineering Society
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Since there was no rebate allocated for them, the Section funded each of them with an annual
rebate equivalent to make them active. The main activities by each chapter are listed below.
Society
Communication Society
Activity
1. Video Quality Assessment of 2D and 3D Video by Dr. Anil
Fernando of University of Surrey UK.
2. Next Phase in Media Entertainment Systems by Dr. Gerard
Fernando of Zone 24×7 Inc.
3. Future Internet with Information Centric Networks, by Mr.
Asanga Udugama of University of Bremen, Germany
4. Wireless Sensor Networks Applications by Dr. Koojana
Kuladinithi of University of Bremen, Germany
5. Field Visit to Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC)
Microwave Theory and
Techniques
1. Challenges at microwave frequencies by Dr. Aruna
Gunawardena, University of Peradeniya
2. Current trends in coherent optical transmission by Dr.
Vijitha Herath, University of Peradeniya
3. Functional brain mapping of the auditory system using fMRI
and modeling the effects of acoustic history by Dr. Ruwan
D. Ranaweera
Power
Society
Engineering
1. Smart Grid Technology and Implementation by Prof. N.
Athula Kulatunga, Perdue University, USA
2. Functional brain mapping of the auditory system using fMRI
and modeling the effects of acoustic history by Dr. Ruwan
D. Ranaweera, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
3. Future Condition Monitoring of Power Transformers by Dr.
Chandima Ekanayake, University of Queensland, Australia
4. Building A Renewable Energy Lab, Dr. Sumedha
Rajakaruna, Curtin University of Technology, Australia
5. Renewable Energy and Distributed Generation Integration:
Prospects and Issues, Dr. Mithulan Nadarajah, University of
Queensland, Australia
6. MicroGrids, by Dr. Parbath Binduhewa, University of
Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
Computer Society
1. Bio Metrics for person identification: Opportunities and
challenges for Sri Lanka – by Dr. Harin Sellahewa
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Central
Subsection
Region
1. Functional brain mapping of the auditory system using fMRI
and modeling the effects of acoustic history by Dr. Ruwan
D. Ranaweera, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
2. Building A Renewable Energy Lab, Dr. Sumedha
Rajakaruna, Curtin University of Technology, Australia.
3. Integral Energy Power Quality and Reliability Centre
(IEPQRC) and its power engineering activities, Prof. Sarath
Perera, School of Electrical, Computer and
Telecommunications Engineering, University of
Wollongong, Australia
4. Introduction of smart meters to Sri Lanka: Advantages,
Challenges and Pitfalls, by Mr. Kamalanath Samarakoon,
Dept. of Computer Engineering, University of Peradeniya
B.3 Professional and Continuing Education Activities
We organized and/or jointly organized and/or co-sponsored the following technical meetings,
lectures and international conferences in 2010.
Technical meetings and lectures
1. Nanotechnology in a changing world: Potential for wealth creation by Prof. Ravi Silva
Advanced Technology Institute, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom
2. Challenges at microwave frequencies by Dr. Aruna Gunawardena, University of
Peradeniya
3. Current trends in coherent optical transmission by Dr. Vijitha Herath, University of
Peradeniya
4. Forays into Space: A Development Perspective, by Mr. Sanath Panawennage, Director,
Arthur C. Clerk Institute for Modern Technologies
5. Functional brain mapping of the auditory system using fMRI and modeling the effects of
acoustic history by Dr. Ruwan D. Ranaweera
6. Future Condition Monitoring of Power Transformers by Dr. Chandima Ekanayake,
University of Queensland, Australia
7. Building A Renewable Energy Lab, Dr. Sumedha Rajakaruna, Curtin University of
Technology,Australia
8. Renewable Energy and Distributed Generation Integration: Prospects and Issues, Dr.
Mithulan Nadarajah, University of Queensland, Australia
9. MicroGrids, by Dr. Parbath Binduhewa, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
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International Conferences
1. Seventh International Conference on Wireless and Optical Communications Networks
(WOCN2010), 6-8th of September, 2010, Hilton Colombo Hotel, Colombo, Sri Lanka
2. IEEE International Conference on Sustainable Energy Technologies-2010 (ICEST'10), 6-9
Dec 2010, Kandy, Sri Lanka
3. 5th IEEE International Conference on Industrial and Information Systems 2010 (ICIIS) July
29 - August 1, NITK, Suraktal, Mangalore, India
4. International Conference on Advances in ICT for Emerging Regions 2010, conference in
Colombo September 29 - October 1
5. 2010 Fifth International Conference on Information and Automation for Sustainability
(ICIAfS) December 17-19, 2010, Colombo, Sri Lanka
In addition, the following series of events were held during the invited visit by Prof. Norman
Mariun, the IEEE Region 10 Section Coordinator, IEEE MGA Geographic Unit Support Group
Committee Member, and IEEE PES Chapter Section Relation Committee
1.
15th May 2010 - IEEE Officer Training workshop on "How to make your Section more vibrant
and Engaging the members?" conducted for Sri Lanka Section Officers. Venue: University of
Colombo,
School
of
Computing,
Colombo
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2.
16th May 2010 - Program for Power Engineering Society members - "What is IEEE and PES
and what are the benefits of forming a Chapter?"
Venue: Institute of Engineers Sri Lanka Auditorium, Ward Place Colombo 7
3.
17th May 2010 - Talk to the IEEE Members / Engineers in Sri Lanka on "Energy Crisis 2050?
Malaysia Experience way forward"
Venue: Institute of Engineers Sri Lanka Auditorium, Ward Place Colombo 7
4.
18th May 2010 - Talk to University undergraduates and postgraduates on "Rotor Fault
Condition Monitoring Techniques of Induction Machine"
Venue: Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Kandy
B.4 Students Activities
Currently there are 3 student branches attached to the IEEE Sri Lanka Section, namely
 University of Moratuwa Student Branch
 University of Peradeniya Student Branch
 University of Colombo, School of Computing Student Branch
The main activities carried out by each student branch are summarized below:
University of Moratuwa Student Branch
1. Presidents' Change the World - awareness program for the all departments. - January 2010
2. Robot Competition in collaborate with Electronic and Telecommunication Department –
March 2010
3. Recruitment Day - Recruit the new comers and issue the Student Branch membership. –
August 2010
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4. Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union – International Robot Competition - participation for the
competition by members where the robot construction was partly funded by IEEE Sri Lanka
Section.
5. Field visit for CEB Biomass energy plant Trincomalee - Open field visit for all other interested
student branches. - September 2010
6. Worldwide conferences and Paper contest awareness program. – Awareness program for
the students conducted by Senior IEEE member to convince the importance and
methodologies of such competitions. – September 2010
7. IEEE Xtreme 2010 - 24hour online programming competition facilitating program -October
2010
8. ERU Symposium in collaborate with Engineering Research Unit – November 2010
9. Field visit for Energy Plus Pvt. Ltd, Marawila. An awareness program on emerging
photovoltaic technology. – November 2010
University of Peradeniya Student Branch
1. Seminar on Electrical Engineering covering
a. Power system distribution
b. Modeling of power grids
c. Fault analysis
d. Latest technologies June 2010
2. Job fair in collaboration with Institution of Engineering Technology Younger Members
Section and Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka – September 2010
3. Team work on “Low Cost Lithium-Iron Battery Charger for Automotive and Renewable
Energy Applications” for the IEEE 2011 International Future Energy Challenge competition.
University of Colombo, School of Computing Student Branch
This branch has been quite inactive. However, they played a major role in organizing the
International Conference on Advances in ICT for Emerging Regions 2010, conference in Colombo
September 29 - October 1.
B.6 Awards & Recognition Activities
IEEE Sri Lanka section has been sponsoring the IEEE Xtreme competition, and in 2009 when the
Sri Lankan IEEE Student members became World Champions, they were given cash awards,
which took place in 2010.
We also provide support to students who present papers at international conferences and
participate in international competitions. For example, for the team work on “Low Cost LithiumIron Battery Charger for Automotive and Renewable Energy Applications” in the IEEE 2011
International Future Energy Challenge competition by the student members of University of
Peradeniya Student branch, the work was partially sponsored.
B.7 Communication Activities
Our main method of communication with members in the section is via E-Mails. In addition, a
home page is also maintained at
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http://ewh.ieee.org/r10/srilanka/
PART C - OTHERS
C.1 Relationship with National Societies
There are several Sri Lankan professional societies such as the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka
(IESL), Institution of Engineering Technology (IET), Power High voltage and Energy Systems
(PHES) club. Since many people are members of both the IEEE and one or both of the IESL and
IET, it is our policy to work in cooperation with these societies to promote professional
engineering activities in Sri Lanka. To this end, we co-sponsor and co-organize many events.
PART D - GOALS AND PLANS
D.1 Continuation of Project/Activity in Progress and Their Implementation
Plans
In 2011, we will continue to provide technical co-sponsorhsips perhaps with some financial
contributions to the annual International Conferences held in Sri Lanka. In addition, awards and
aids to students as described above will also be continued.
D.2 Goals and Future Plans
In the future, we plan to extend the society chapters by staring one on Robotics and High
Voltage Engineering. Also it is planned to activate the inactive student branch and start two
new student branches in the Faculty of Engineering, University of Ruhuna and Sri Lanka Institute
of Information Technology (SLIIT). In addition, a greater effort will be put on improving the
home page.