near future. In the words of Dr. Aruna Gunawardhana, who is a key person in facilitating and guiding these projects,“ Learning these things from a book is fine, we are all comfortable. But through learning the practical stuff, getting that feeling is very hard”. That is the feeling these enthusiastic students yearn for through working in these projects associated with the laboratory. Engineering undergraduates of the University of Peradeniya can experiment in various kinds of ways while enjoying the beauty of microwave technology. Simply, they can start swimming into the depths of the ocean of microwave technology with the aid of this laboratory in the Faulty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya. Apart from the research, considering the undergraduate course, it facilitates the complete process from concept to design and further to testing of the prototypes of microwave-related applications. The students are given an idea of the correct measurement techniques and instrument handling. Also, they are expected to be exposed to many professional and high-end design tools available in the lab and use them to realize the theories they have learned in the lectures.
Beyond above, the Microwave lab provides facilities for accurate and reliable measurements on Microwave related products and as this is the only place in Sri Lanka for that, it can be utilized to uphold the standards of them. And as its researches and projects are focused on areas which are practically applicable, the society can benefit much from them. For instance, the ongoing research associated with‘ Radar systems’ can assist in predicting landslides, and the outcomes of ongoing‘ amateur radio’ and‘ walkie-talkie’ projects would come in handy in a disastrous situation where all the telephone and communication networks would be down. Along with these realizable researches in hand, the microwave lab is always willing to serve its community. Even with all the equipment available still it hasn’ t stopped growing. A new‘ Network Analyzer’ has been proposed to the laboratory which allows measuring frequencies up to 26.5 GHz, which will allow the laboratory to design and fabricate MICs to work at very high frequencies.
Growing up with both physical and human resources, the Microwave laboratory in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya, when taken as a whole unit, can be considered as an immeasurable resource not only to the University of Peradeniya, but to whole country. Therefore, it is convenient to expect that, it would play a major role in the development Microwave technology-related practices in Sri Lanka in times to come. The immense support extended and valuable information provided by Dr. Aruna Gunawardhana,( Dept. of Electrical and Electronic Engineering), and the‘ Micro-Wave Theory and Techniques Society, University of Peradeniya student branch’ is much appreciated.
SACHINI EKANAYAKE AND NILANGA THELASINGHA Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering( Third Year)
18 Gauge Newsletter University of Peradeniya