The Institute of Automobile Engineers (Sri Lanka) was inaugurated in 1998 by group of prominent members in the industry with attendance of eighty two participants, who were engaged in the Automobile field. At this inaugural meeting Mr. Shelly Wickramasinghe, who was the Chief Engineer in the Ceylon Transport Board and later consultant to British Leyland, was unanimously elected as the President.
The institute in its Seventeen year in existence had several achievements to its credit. Two major events that remind me are the incorporation of the Institute by act of Parliament in 1992 and joining the International Federation of Automotive Engineering Societies in the world, having its registered office located in London, UK, in 1998.
The Courses and Examinations in Automotive Engineering and Management conducted by the Institute had become very popular among students and nearly 80 students who had passed final examinations during the past have obtained higher professional levels in the industry here and abroad. Department of Motor Traffic by its circular dated 8th June 2005 had accepted that the corporate members are eligible to issue fitness certificate to vehicles.
There was opportunity for our members to represent in various activities and symposiums including to present technical papers at the congresses held by national member societies of the International Federation of Automotive Engineering Societies (FISITA). We have presented in the biannual congresses of the FISITA held from the year 2000 in France, Finland and Spain. Next congress will be held in Yokohama, Japan in 2006. The technical papers were presented by our members at the Japanese Society of Automotive Engineers annual Congresses held every year during past in Japan. In addition, our representations were possible at the Congresses held in Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE – International) USA and society of Automotive Engineers – Australasia in their respective countries. Our Institute was represented at the International Pacific Conference on Automotive Engineering held this year in Korea.
Since the inception, at home we had symposiums on core vehicle technologies quarterly every year presented by highly qualified authors of local and foreign representing the dealers and distributors of Automobiles and Accessories in Sri Lanka to members.
The present membership in all categories is over 950.
Our strategic goals among others are to promote professional proficiency in Automotive Engineering among the members of the Institute by undertaking such activities as will contribute to such proficiency, to establish and promote representational link with international bodies embracing the automotive engineering discipline to undertake activities that will promote and development of the automotive industry in Sri Lanka and thereby contribute to the advancement of the national economy. |
