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Warmest congratulations to Prof. H.R. Pasindu on his appointment as President of CILT Sri Lanka for 2026/2027. This is a well-deserved recognition of your leadership and contributions to the field of transport and logistics. Wishing you a successful and impactful tenure ahead as you continue to drive excellence and innovation in the industry.

Proud moment for the Department of Civil Engineering, ����ͷ��! Heartfelt congratulations on receiving the 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭’𝐬 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡, bringing great honor to our department and university through outstanding research excellence. This achievement also reflects the strong research culture, academic rigor, and the department’s capacity to consistently produce high-quality, impactful research that addresses national and global challenges.

The Department of Civil Engineering has formalized a strategic collaboration with Sterling Steels (pvt) Limited through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at advancing industry-led research in Sri Lanka’s steel construction sector. This partnership is dedicated to bridging the gap between academic innovation and real-world industry challenges through knowledge exchange. Supervised by Dr. H. M. S. T. Herath, the research will focus on the performance of cold-formed steel sections and connections under complex loading conditions. This initiative creates structured opportunities for our undergraduate and postgraduate students to engage in industry-relevant R&D, providing them with technical expertise and access to facilities that support industrial exposure.

The Department of Civil Engineering at ����ͷ�� successfully hosted ‘Civil Connect 2026’, its official Civil Engineering Career Fair, on 30th April 2026 at the department premises. Organized by the Civil Engineering Society (CES), the event connected final-year undergraduates of the 21st Batch with leading companies in the civil engineering and construction sectors, strengthening ties between academia and industry. The career fair featured nearly 25 renowned organizations representing areas such as structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, transportation, construction, and project management. The opening ceremony, held at the Civil Auditorium, included addresses by the Head of the Department, Prof. U. P. Nawagamuwa, and the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Prof. J. Manatunge, who highlighted the importance of industry collaboration in shaping future engineering professionals. Industry representatives also shared insights and encouragement with students entering the professional world. Following the ceremony, students participated in interview and recruitment sessions with company representatives, gaining internship opportunities, career guidance, and direct industry exposure. Many undergraduates secured multiple internship and employment opportunities, reflecting the high demand for graduates from the Department of Civil Engineering. Civil Connect 2026 marked another significant achievement for the Civil Engineering Society and reaffirmed the commitment of the department to producing skilled, and industry-ready engineers.

The Sinhala and Tamil New Year Festival program of the Department of Civil Engineering, “Civil Ape Avurudu 2026” was held on the 25th of April 2026 from 08.00 am onwards at the Department premises. This event was organized by the 24th Batch of the Department of Civil Engineering under the guidance of the Head of the Department, Prof. Udeni Nawagamuwa and the Civil Engineering Society (CES). The day-long celebration was filled with captivating activities and engrossing games, blending Sinhala and Tamil customs with associated festivities. In addition, the celebration was made even more special with the incorporation of traditional customs, decorations, and food, adding significant value to the event. The event was well-attended by the academic/non-academic staff and undergraduate and postgraduate students of the Civil Engineering Department, resulting in a joyous event. The attendees had the opportunity to unwind and take a break from their regular busy schedules, making the event a memorable and enjoyable experience for everyone involved. As the event came to a close, prizes were awarded to the winners of the various new year events and competitions in appreciation of their enthusiasm and participation. The event was traditionally concluded on a joyful note, marking the successful completion of yet another memorable new year celebration in the Department of Civil Engineering. Civil Ape Awurudu 2026 stood out as a colourful and heartwarming celebration of culture, unity and togetherness, leaving lasting memories for everyone who attended.

Prof. H. R. Pasindu, one of the esteemed professors in the Department of Civil Engineering at the ����ͷ��, was elected as the president of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, Sri Lanka at the 42nd Annual General Meeting held on 31st March 2026.

The annual cricket tournament of the Department of Civil Engineering, ‘Civil Cric Fiesta – 2026’ was organized by the 24th Batch of the department, under the guidance of Civil Engineering Society (CES) of ����ͷ��. The tournament was held at the university playground on the 26th of March 2026 from 08.00 am onwards providing an excellent opportunity for the academic/non-academic staff and students of the Department of Civil Engineering to have a break from the daily routine tasks, re-energize and enjoy themselves. The event was inaugurated with the participation of the students and the academic staff, including Prof. Udeni Nawagamuwa (Head of the Department), Dr. Pasindu Weerasinghe (Senior Treasurer of CES) and Dr. Sampath Hewage (Staff Advisor of CES).

The highly anticipated annual entertainment event, “Civil Padura 2026” was successfully held at the Civil Engineering Department premises on the 23rd of February, 2026. This event was organized by the Civil Engineering Society (CES) under the guidance of the Head of the Department, Prof. Udeni Nawagamuwa and also with the leadership from the Civil 2021 Batch. The event commenced at 6.00 p.m. with the ceremonial lighting of the traditional oil lamp, setting the tone for an evening filled with excitement and vibrant energy. The event drew a lively crowd comprising academic/non-academic staff and undergraduate and postgraduate students of the Civil Engineering Department. The venue was decorated with colourful arrangements, creating a festive atmosphere that warmly welcomed the audience. The evening featured a captivating blend of performances, showcasing not only musical talents but also an engaging drama and energetic dance acts. Each performance reflected the creativity and passion of the undergraduates, making the evening both diverse and memorable. The overwhelming participation and enthusiasm from students across various departments reflected the event’s tremendous success. As the evening drew to a close, “Civil Padura 2026” once again left behind cherished memories and a lasting impression on all who attended the event.

The Department of Civil Engineering, ����ͷ��, successfully organized a Workshop on Curriculum Reforms and Accreditation Requirements for the BSc Civil Engineering Programme, followed by the annual Staff Retreat 2025/2026, as part of its continuous efforts to enhance academic quality and programme development. The workshop focused on key areas such as modernization of the curriculum, incorporation of modern tools into teaching, Programme Outcome (PO) mapping, and evaluation of Learning Outcome (LO) attainment. The sessions were interactive and practice-oriented, enabling staff members to actively engage in discussions and group activities aligned with accreditation requirements. Building on these initiatives, the staff retreat provided a broader platform for re-imagining curriculum delivery and strengthening departmental strategies. The programme included group presentations on innovative teaching approaches, improvements to core modules, and strategies to attract high-calibre students to Civil Engineering, alongside discussions on ethics, quality, and future directions. The retreat fostered a strong sense of community, with staff members’ families in attendance and a range of activities organized to promote social harmony and team cohesion, thereby creating a well-balanced environment for both professional engagement and collaborative interaction.

The Department of Civil Engineering at the ����ͷ�� recently took another significant step toward strengthening the quality and global recognition of its undergraduate programme by focusing on outcome-based education and accreditation practices. On 29 January 2026, the Civil Engineering Department Accreditation and Compliance Committee invited Prof. J.P. Karunadasa to deliver a special lecture on “Guidelines for Evaluating LO–PO Attainment” to the academic staff. The session, held in the Civil Engineering Department Auditorium, emphasized systematic approaches to measuring how well students achieve intended learning outcomes (LOs) and programme outcomes (POs), key requirements in modern engineering education. Prof. Karunadasa highlighted that POs represent the essential competencies that engineering graduates must possess, including problem-solving, design skills, ethical practice, teamwork, and lifelong learning. Since direct measurement of such competencies is often challenging, he explained that internationally accepted indirect methods are used. These rely on well-structured LOs at the course level, careful mapping between LOs and POs, and robust assessment strategies. A key message of the session was the importance of aligning teaching, assessment, and evaluation. Each module must define clear, measurable LOs, which are then systematically linked to broader POs. The attainment of these outcomes is assessed through continuous assessments, laboratory work, and examinations, ensuring that every component contributes meaningfully to student learning. Prof. Karunadasa also stressed the role of continuous quality improvement. By analyzing student performance in relation to specific learning outcomes, academic staff can identify gaps, implement corrective actions, and demonstrate measurable improvements over time, an essential requirement for accreditation. This session forms part of the department’s ongoing efforts to align with the standards of the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka (IESL) and the Washington Accord, an international agreement that recognizes the substantial equivalence of engineering degree programme. Achieving and maintaining such accreditation ensures that graduates of the ����ͷ�� remain globally competitive and professionally competent. The initiative reflects the department’s strong commitment to academic excellence, accountability, and the continuous enhancement of engineering education in Sri Lanka.