A HIDDEN JEWEL
INSIDE THE DEPARTMENT OF
ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONIC
ENGINEERING
W
hat does the word “Microwaves” would make you
everything needed had to be ordered and imported from for-
feel? Most probably what will come to your mind
eign countries. Above all, the most difficult part was gathering
would be the ‘Microwave Oven’. Well, you are not
the resource personnel with the necessary knowledge to begin
alone. But there are many other aspects to it.
research and design. Fortunately, it was Prof. Shiban K. Koul
There is a common saying that goes as ‘Trying to accomplish a
and Associate Prof. Ananjan Basu, from the ‘Indian Institute of
task before the microwave hits 0 like your life depends on it’. That
Technology’ (IIT), who helped to overcome the challenge. They
much it has intervened with our lives.
stayed in Peradeniya for about five weeks and engaged in a
Microwaves are a kind of Electromagnetic waves as visible light,
successful technology transfer with the staff of the Department
IR or UV. The applications of them spread over a vast area from
of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. Apart from knowledge,
a simple oven to a complex astronomical telescopes. They are
another problem that was faced by the founders at the initiation
playing a key role in the information age, where there is the
of the laboratory was the scarcity of funds. Not only the equip-
tendency for everything to be wireless. Microwaves are used in
ment, even the CAD (Computer Aided Design) tools needed were
many communication equipments ranging from mobile phones
worth millions. (which also may be the reason why Sri Lanka was
to walkie-talkies and radios, in surveillance and data collection
not into design and research related to Microwaves) It was due
equipment like radars, and also in many medical instruments.
to the funders, including but not limited to Asian Development
Therefore, for the development of microwave-related technology
Bank (ADB), SIDA/SAREC (Swedish International Development
we are using, we should be thankful to the aspects of engineer-
co-operation Agency) and National Science Foundation (NSF),
ing, related to planning, analyzing, designing, prototyping and
the lab got access to worlds’ top ranking design tools, simula-
manufacturing of these technological marvels. Even though
tion tools, measuring tools and many other hardware. Thereafter,
these technologies have been used by Sri Lankans for years, it
through the resources and the knowledge gathered, two courses
is regrettable to mention that we had not taken a considerable
interest in designing them. But in 2004, that vacuum was filled
by the Microwave laboratory which was implemented at the
Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Faculty
of Engineering, University of Peradeniya, through sweat and
blood of lot of inspired individuals. Along with it a new page
was unrolled in the history of the faculty and also in microwave
related engineering in Sri Lanka, as it was the only place in the
island which had the capability to design and fabricate circuits
with MIC (Microwave Integrated) Technology and it is the same
for today.
‘The ones who are crazy enough to think that they can
change the world, are the ones who do.’
- Steve Jobs Although it is said easily, getting the plan into motion was not.
As this is a hardware oriented field where practical applications and tests are vast, a lab with a lot of expensive hardware,
software, and also resource personnel were essential. Hence,
16
Gauge Newsletter
University of Peradeniya