What were your interests after
graduation?
I graduated with a First Class Honors degree
and also managed to top the batch. The department
recruited me as a Temporary Instructor.
However, my desire was to become
an experienced engineer; therefore, I started
applying for jobs. I got several job offers; from
CIC as a Project Engineer, Nylon 6 as a Chemical
Engineer and John Keells Holdings as a
Production Executive/Engineer.
After considering the pros and cons, I joined
John Keells holdings and worked there from
mid-1995 to end 1996. During my stay at
Keells, I gathered experience in equipment
maintenance, wastewater treatment, energy
conservation, and labour management. John
Keells was a flagship company; many energetic
men and women were working there. I
was fortunate to interact with them, gain new
knowledge, develop skills and improve work
attitudes. My experience at John Keells was a
memorable one.
With the aim of becoming a recognized engineer,
I wanted to move to Ceylon Petroleum
Cooperation, where Chartered Chemical Engineers
were recruited. To become a Chartered
engineer, a two-year training period under
a Chartered Engineer was a pre-requisite.
Working at the Petroleum Corporation was a
dream for many young engineers, but there
was a tough selection criteria. Anyhow, I applied,
sat for a highly competitive examination,
and faced a tough interview. Once again,
I managed to top the batch of applicants and
was selected as a Chemical Engineer to serve
at the Petroleum Refinery in Sapugaskanda.
At the petroleum refinery, I got many opportunities
to shape my carrier as a professional
chemical engineer.
Just before completing the 2nd year at the Refinery,
the Keellls Management approached
me and offered a managerial position with
an attractive package. However, my parents
made me agree to their desire and apply for
a position at the University of Peradeniya. In
October 1998, I was recruited as a Lecturer to
the Department of Chemical Engineering of
the University of Peradeniya.
I am a happy man today, I fulfilled my desire
by getting engineering experiences in highly
reputed industries and fulfilled the desires of
my parents by becoming a university lecturer.
What were your research interests?
Since my childhood, I was curious to know
how things happen in our surroundings. I understood
that natural science subjects, mainly
chemistry provided explanations to my problems.
Therefore, out of the available engineering
disciplines, I felt, Chemical Engineering
would fulfill my desires. So I selected Chemical
Engineering to be my field of specialization.
Later, I was very happy with the choice. By
being a chemical engineer, I thought, I can
bring wealth to the country by adding value
to whatever limited resources available in the
country.
Since my undergraduate days, I wanted to
work in energy and/or environmental fields.
At John Keells, I got a chance to practice what
was learned in the undergraduate programme
and enhance the knowledge through practice.
After serving three years at Peradeniya, I
moved to the University of Birmingham, UK,
to peruse postgraduate studies. I was attached
to the supercritical fluids group. After completing
my Ph.D. studies, I resumed duties at
Peradeniya in 2005.
My research interests are in the field of environmental
engineering, mainly wastewater
treatment, energy conservation, solid waste
management and biofuels.
GAUGE Magazine
University of Peradeniya
Page
31